Today’s Reading: Genesis 15; Genesis 16; Genesis 17; Luke 6
Scripture: Genesis 15
5 [God] took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."
6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 16
1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, "The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her."
Abram agreed to what Sarai said.
Observation: Abraham had faith. He had received the promise and he believed it and God gave him credit for that. But before long (I don't know how long) he saw that nothing was happening. And someone else made a suggestion for a shortcut -- a way to help God out. So Abraham decided that he would go that way. Maybe God couldn't do it without his help.
Application: I have received promises from God. And I have believed. And I have doubted. And I have tried to help God out. I don't want to do that any more.
Prayer: Lord, help me to learn to do what You want and only what You want. Help me to not listen to the "suggestions" of others but only to You. I want Your will in its fullness in my life.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Friday, January 05, 2007
Title: Newness Requires Newness / Topic: Change
Today’s Reading: Genesis 12; Genesis 13; Genesis 14; Luke 5
Scripture: Genesis 12:1-2; Luke 5: 37-38
Genesis 12:1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.
2 "I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
Luke 5:37 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.
Observation: Both these passages speak of change. God calls Abram to a new phase in his life. He has a destiny different from his past. He has made significant changes already, but they are nothing compared to those in his future. Even his name will be changed to reflect this fact. But to get there he has to move -- literally.
In the Luke passage, Jesus is speaking of spiritual newness comparing it to wine. To make new wine, new wineskins were a must. One could not have new wine without new wineskins.
Application: For there to be newness in our lives, we must embrace newness. As the saying goes, "nothing changes if nothing changes." So often people talk about taking it to "the next level." But to do that, we have to move, to change. Abram had to give up so much -- leaving his family and friends and taking on the hassle and risk of a move. But if he had not moved, he could never have become Abraham and entered into God's destiny for him. We have to provide a new wineskin -- that is a new context for God to pour change into our lives. It will involve sacrifice, discomfort, hassle, risk -- change is not fun. The results can be awesome, but getting there is tough. Am I willing to embrace true, significant, uncomfortable change in my life? I pray that I am.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I know that You know the destiny that You have for me. I don't want to miss it. Help me -- build me up so I am strong enough to accept whatever change is necessary in my life to receive the good future and blessing You have planned for me. Help me to see the things I need to give up, the things I need to leave, and the things I need to adopt in order to be fully within Your divine plan for me.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Genesis 12:1-2; Luke 5: 37-38
Genesis 12:1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.
2 "I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
Luke 5:37 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.
Observation: Both these passages speak of change. God calls Abram to a new phase in his life. He has a destiny different from his past. He has made significant changes already, but they are nothing compared to those in his future. Even his name will be changed to reflect this fact. But to get there he has to move -- literally.
In the Luke passage, Jesus is speaking of spiritual newness comparing it to wine. To make new wine, new wineskins were a must. One could not have new wine without new wineskins.
Application: For there to be newness in our lives, we must embrace newness. As the saying goes, "nothing changes if nothing changes." So often people talk about taking it to "the next level." But to do that, we have to move, to change. Abram had to give up so much -- leaving his family and friends and taking on the hassle and risk of a move. But if he had not moved, he could never have become Abraham and entered into God's destiny for him. We have to provide a new wineskin -- that is a new context for God to pour change into our lives. It will involve sacrifice, discomfort, hassle, risk -- change is not fun. The results can be awesome, but getting there is tough. Am I willing to embrace true, significant, uncomfortable change in my life? I pray that I am.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I know that You know the destiny that You have for me. I don't want to miss it. Help me -- build me up so I am strong enough to accept whatever change is necessary in my life to receive the good future and blessing You have planned for me. Help me to see the things I need to give up, the things I need to leave, and the things I need to adopt in order to be fully within Your divine plan for me.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Title: Real Power? / Topic: Ministry
Today’s Reading: Genesis 9; Genesis 10; Genesis 11; Luke 4
Scripture: Luke 4:36-37
36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!" 37 And the news about him spread...
Observation: Wow! A religious leader who can actually make something happen in the spiritual realm! Now this is a real oddity. In Jesus' day, people had become used to spiritual and religious babblers -- spiritual teachers and religious leaders who had no real power. They could talk your brain numb, but they could produce no substantive result.
Application: I think people today are just the same: Low expectations of today's spiritual leaders. That's because the condition of the "religious community" is about the same. I certainly believe it is true of the Christian community. We can talk, but I don't know too many people who are actually taking on Satan. Precious few are casting out demons, or raising the dead, or the like.
So Jesus came along and had real power and actually did real miracles. And people were astonished. But Jesus is the same today. And if we are empowered by the same Spirit that compelled Jesus and if we are led by the same Father that led Jesus, than we should be able to see achieve of the same kind of attention-getting spiritual works today.
Why don't we? Probably because we don't pray enough. Jesus constantly was in prayer contact with His Father, and He spent long, significant times in earnest prayer. In contrast, most of us shoot up bullet point prayers to God and if we were to "travail" for even an hour, we would feel as if we had accomplished something amazing.
Well I do want to accomplish something amazing. But do I want it enough to pay the price to make it happen, as Jesus did? Are you? Time will tell.
Prayer: Father, help me to develop whatever I need to develop to be willing, ready, and able to pay the price to gain the spiritual power to see miracles. Lord, it is so easy to talk about spiritual power. But, Father, the world needs those who would walk in the footsteps of Jesus and actually make it happen. May I be one of those.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Luke 4:36-37
36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!" 37 And the news about him spread...
Observation: Wow! A religious leader who can actually make something happen in the spiritual realm! Now this is a real oddity. In Jesus' day, people had become used to spiritual and religious babblers -- spiritual teachers and religious leaders who had no real power. They could talk your brain numb, but they could produce no substantive result.
Application: I think people today are just the same: Low expectations of today's spiritual leaders. That's because the condition of the "religious community" is about the same. I certainly believe it is true of the Christian community. We can talk, but I don't know too many people who are actually taking on Satan. Precious few are casting out demons, or raising the dead, or the like.
So Jesus came along and had real power and actually did real miracles. And people were astonished. But Jesus is the same today. And if we are empowered by the same Spirit that compelled Jesus and if we are led by the same Father that led Jesus, than we should be able to see achieve of the same kind of attention-getting spiritual works today.
Why don't we? Probably because we don't pray enough. Jesus constantly was in prayer contact with His Father, and He spent long, significant times in earnest prayer. In contrast, most of us shoot up bullet point prayers to God and if we were to "travail" for even an hour, we would feel as if we had accomplished something amazing.
Well I do want to accomplish something amazing. But do I want it enough to pay the price to make it happen, as Jesus did? Are you? Time will tell.
Prayer: Father, help me to develop whatever I need to develop to be willing, ready, and able to pay the price to gain the spiritual power to see miracles. Lord, it is so easy to talk about spiritual power. But, Father, the world needs those who would walk in the footsteps of Jesus and actually make it happen. May I be one of those.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Title: Hope In The Midst Of Darkness / Topic: God's Grace
Today’s Reading: Genesis 6; Genesis 7; Genesis 8; Luke 3
Scripture: Genesis 6:5-8
5 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. 6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. 7 So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them." 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
Observation: It is amazing how man can degenerate into wickedness and chaos. The fact is, it is easier to do bad things than good things. And when you get a lot of people together (like in societies, and other groupings) and everybody has the same tendencies toward evil, there is a cumulative effect. In this passage, God is so upset He wished He had not made man! But even in the middle of all this darkness, there is hope. God finds a man who He finds favor with.
Application: God is always looking for people to believe in. Those people, typically, are those who believe in God. I want to be one of the people that God believes in.
Prayer: Lord, help me to live with my eyes on You. I know Your eyes are on me. May I please You, even in the midst of evil.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Genesis 6:5-8
5 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. 6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. 7 So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them." 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
Observation: It is amazing how man can degenerate into wickedness and chaos. The fact is, it is easier to do bad things than good things. And when you get a lot of people together (like in societies, and other groupings) and everybody has the same tendencies toward evil, there is a cumulative effect. In this passage, God is so upset He wished He had not made man! But even in the middle of all this darkness, there is hope. God finds a man who He finds favor with.
Application: God is always looking for people to believe in. Those people, typically, are those who believe in God. I want to be one of the people that God believes in.
Prayer: Lord, help me to live with my eyes on You. I know Your eyes are on me. May I please You, even in the midst of evil.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Title: Deadly Pride / Topic: Responses
Today’s Reading: Genesis 3; Genesis 4; Genesis 5; Luke 2
Scripture: Genesis 4:5 ...on Cain and his offering [God] did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
Observation: Cain's offering (and Cain himself) is not well received by God. You could say it (and he) was rejected. And Cain has a negative and severe emotional reaction.
What struck me about this is that of all the emotional responses that Cain could have had, he allowed himself to indulge in anger, self-pity and resentment. Cain has anger towards God, pity for himself, and resentment toward his brother. The eventual outcome of all this was the world's first premeditated murder and coverup. And Cain's callousness and self-centeredness is further evidenced by his subsequent lack of remorse and worry about himself and his own future. (He doesn't seem to worry about the fact that he deprived his brother of a future.)
Application: Pride is the root of Cain's problems. Pride is the elevation of self-thought and focus about how everything affects me. Other possible (and I would suggest, healthier) responses to rejection by God might be sadness, grief, and seeking to know the "why" -- that is, what was wrong (if I didn't already know it), and what I could do to fix it.
(By the way, I think that Cain knew full well what was wrong, given the conversation between Cain and God in verse 6. With the phrase, "If you do what is right," God seems to be reminding him of a simple remedy that Cain already knows.)
Bottom line: Humility is such an important key to healthy relationships with other people, and more importantly, with God. Paul gives us good advice in Romans 12:3. He says "...to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly..."
Prayer: Lord, help me to have a healthy self-image. Not to think more highly of myself than I ought. And not to think less highly of myself than I ought. Help me to place the interests of others above my own, and to keep You in the highest place in my life. You are my Lord, and my God. May I always submit joyfully to Your will.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Genesis 4:5 ...on Cain and his offering [God] did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
Observation: Cain's offering (and Cain himself) is not well received by God. You could say it (and he) was rejected. And Cain has a negative and severe emotional reaction.
What struck me about this is that of all the emotional responses that Cain could have had, he allowed himself to indulge in anger, self-pity and resentment. Cain has anger towards God, pity for himself, and resentment toward his brother. The eventual outcome of all this was the world's first premeditated murder and coverup. And Cain's callousness and self-centeredness is further evidenced by his subsequent lack of remorse and worry about himself and his own future. (He doesn't seem to worry about the fact that he deprived his brother of a future.)
Application: Pride is the root of Cain's problems. Pride is the elevation of self-thought and focus about how everything affects me. Other possible (and I would suggest, healthier) responses to rejection by God might be sadness, grief, and seeking to know the "why" -- that is, what was wrong (if I didn't already know it), and what I could do to fix it.
(By the way, I think that Cain knew full well what was wrong, given the conversation between Cain and God in verse 6. With the phrase, "If you do what is right," God seems to be reminding him of a simple remedy that Cain already knows.)
Bottom line: Humility is such an important key to healthy relationships with other people, and more importantly, with God. Paul gives us good advice in Romans 12:3. He says "...to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly..."
Prayer: Lord, help me to have a healthy self-image. Not to think more highly of myself than I ought. And not to think less highly of myself than I ought. Help me to place the interests of others above my own, and to keep You in the highest place in my life. You are my Lord, and my God. May I always submit joyfully to Your will.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Title: In The Beginning / Topic: Foundations
Happy New Year!
Today’s Reading: Genesis 1; Genesis 2; Luke 1
Scripture: Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God...
Observation: Everything starts with God.
Application: That's true in the creation of the universe, and also true in life, if we understand it rightly. Today is the beginning of a new year -- and -- "In the beginning God." As I got up this morning, I started by going right to my knees to come before the Lord and offer Him myself and my day. To ask Him for His guidance and blessing and empowering to make this day, and this year, one of the exercise of His spiritual power in and through my life. Everything starts with God, if we understand it rightly.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, I thank You for Your gracious and tender mercies that You renew every morning. I thank You that You are the great "I AM" -- every day present and living powerfully in the immediacy of the now. I ask that You would bless this day and this new year with a remarkable sense of Your anointing. I want Your stamp on and in and through my life. I want to know You, to be known by You, and to help others to know You too. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done in and through my life as it is in Heaven. May I fulfill all the divine potential that You have ascribed for me.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Title: King And Judge / Topic: Jesus' Return
Today’s Reading: Revelation 19; Revelation 20; Revelation 21; Revelation 22
Scripture: Revelation 22:12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done...
Observation: Jesus is coming soon. What I notice about this verse is the phrase, "My reward is with me..." Jesus comes as Conquering King and Judge. There is much that will happen at this time. Many will be overjoyed to see the Lord. Others will be terrified.
Application: It's a simple message to end the year. Jesus is coming soon and He's bringing goodies. Live right.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for Yourself and the rewards that come from serving You. What a privilege it is to know You, Lord. Thank You for loving and choosing me. Help me to live for You and look forward to Your coming.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Revelation 22:12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done...
Observation: Jesus is coming soon. What I notice about this verse is the phrase, "My reward is with me..." Jesus comes as Conquering King and Judge. There is much that will happen at this time. Many will be overjoyed to see the Lord. Others will be terrified.
Application: It's a simple message to end the year. Jesus is coming soon and He's bringing goodies. Live right.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for Yourself and the rewards that come from serving You. What a privilege it is to know You, Lord. Thank You for loving and choosing me. Help me to live for You and look forward to Your coming.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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