Today’s Reading: Genesis 12; Genesis 13; Genesis 14; Luke 5
Scripture: 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.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you."
Observation: God picks Abraham (aka Abram). Why God selects Abraham to be the one through whom the covenant comes is debatable. But there is one thing I noticed from yesterday's reading. It is that for the first time in the Bible we are told that someone is barren, that is, unable to bear children. "The name of Abram's wife was Sarai... Now Sarai was barren; she had no children." (Genesis 11:29-30) And after this fact is shared, God chooses Abraham.
Application: I think that God loves lost causes. He picks Abraham specifically because Sarai (aka Sarah) is barren. Talk about your negative terms: barren. It sounds lonely, desolate, and forsaken. And to make matters worse, Abram and Sarai are well past their childbearing years. So God says, "Hmmm, who should I pick? Who would be best to be the father of the faithful? Oh, here's the perfect choice, Abram, he and his wife can't have kids. That's perfect!" When the scripture says, "God's ways are not our ways," it knows what it's talking about.
Bottom line: When we are hopeless in our own abilities, resources, or methods, we are prime candidates for God to move in and do his thing, demonstrating his power and might to overcome the impossible.
Prayer: Thanks you, Lord, that you routinely use the hopeless to accomplish the impossible. I guess that means you can use me. I ask you to use me, Lord. I trust in you.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Friday, January 04, 2008
Title: Trials Bring Power / Topic: Spiritual Preparation
Today’s Reading: Genesis 9; Genesis 10; Genesis 11; Luke 4
Scripture: Luke 4:13-14
13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. 14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit...
Observation: Jesus has just undergone 40 days of fasting followed by multiple trials and temptations by the devil. (Note that verse 1 tells us that Jesus was "full of the Holy Spirit" and "was led by the Spirit in the desert." Sometimes we think that if we are in a desert experience or facing trials, we have missed God. On the contrary, the Spirit can actually lead us into these experiences for our strengthening.) And at the end of this period, it says that Jesus returned "in the power of the Spirit." Note the difference: before -- "full of the Holy Spirit"; after "in the power of the Spirit."
Application: If you ask God to have spiritual power, get ready for some testing. Because Jesus was willing to undergo the extreme spiritual discipline of a long total fast (nothing to eat), coupled with solitude, he was well-prepared for spiritual trench warfare. This was a training ground that strengthened him and built him in his ability to engage the enemy at the deepest level. As a result, Jesus left this experience with awesome spiritual power that resulted in healings, deliverances, and the clear and effective communication of the message that God had sent him to bring.
Bottom line: We say we want power, with the attendant miracles, signs, and wonders, but few of us are willing to make the sacrifice to engage in spiritual disciplines that cost us time, energy, comfort, and convenience. Lord help us.
Prayer: Yes, Lord, help us to be willing to pay any price to lay hold of that purpose and power for which you laid hold of us. Thank you for the example of Jesus who went before us to show us how to do it. May we follow him into our own wilderness and may we encounter you there in power and glory. Prepare us for our Master's use.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Luke 4:13-14
13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. 14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit...
Observation: Jesus has just undergone 40 days of fasting followed by multiple trials and temptations by the devil. (Note that verse 1 tells us that Jesus was "full of the Holy Spirit" and "was led by the Spirit in the desert." Sometimes we think that if we are in a desert experience or facing trials, we have missed God. On the contrary, the Spirit can actually lead us into these experiences for our strengthening.) And at the end of this period, it says that Jesus returned "in the power of the Spirit." Note the difference: before -- "full of the Holy Spirit"; after "in the power of the Spirit."
Application: If you ask God to have spiritual power, get ready for some testing. Because Jesus was willing to undergo the extreme spiritual discipline of a long total fast (nothing to eat), coupled with solitude, he was well-prepared for spiritual trench warfare. This was a training ground that strengthened him and built him in his ability to engage the enemy at the deepest level. As a result, Jesus left this experience with awesome spiritual power that resulted in healings, deliverances, and the clear and effective communication of the message that God had sent him to bring.
Bottom line: We say we want power, with the attendant miracles, signs, and wonders, but few of us are willing to make the sacrifice to engage in spiritual disciplines that cost us time, energy, comfort, and convenience. Lord help us.
Prayer: Yes, Lord, help us to be willing to pay any price to lay hold of that purpose and power for which you laid hold of us. Thank you for the example of Jesus who went before us to show us how to do it. May we follow him into our own wilderness and may we encounter you there in power and glory. Prepare us for our Master's use.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Title: Just One Person / Topic: How God Works
Today’s Reading: Genesis 6; Genesis 7; Genesis 8; Luke 3
Scripture: Genesis 6:5-6, 8; Luke 3:2
Genesis 6:5 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... 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
Luke 3:2 ...during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.
Observation: Trouble -- the earth is in trouble. Things are bad and getting worse. Then God shows up. And what does he do? He calls the name of just one person. In Genesis 6, it is Noah, in Luke 3, it is John.
Application: When God wants to bring repentance or healing or some other change upon this planet, he doesn't just zap it -- he uses people to bring it about. And it starts with just one person -- one person who hears God's call and accepts the challenge to let God use him to do the impossible (by human standards). And that one person becomes the vehicle for the administration of God's activity upon the earth. I love the fact that the story of God's work on earth centers around daring individuals who risked it all in pursuit of God. And I know that God still works the same way today, and that he is still calling daring men and women to live a life that makes all the difference for those who will experience God through what they are doing.
Prayer: Lord, work this way through me and through the daring men and women that I have the privilege of leading. May we be bold and strong and filled with your power and grace to make all the difference in our world.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Genesis 6:5-6, 8; Luke 3:2
Genesis 6:5 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... 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
Luke 3:2 ...during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.
Observation: Trouble -- the earth is in trouble. Things are bad and getting worse. Then God shows up. And what does he do? He calls the name of just one person. In Genesis 6, it is Noah, in Luke 3, it is John.
Application: When God wants to bring repentance or healing or some other change upon this planet, he doesn't just zap it -- he uses people to bring it about. And it starts with just one person -- one person who hears God's call and accepts the challenge to let God use him to do the impossible (by human standards). And that one person becomes the vehicle for the administration of God's activity upon the earth. I love the fact that the story of God's work on earth centers around daring individuals who risked it all in pursuit of God. And I know that God still works the same way today, and that he is still calling daring men and women to live a life that makes all the difference for those who will experience God through what they are doing.
Prayer: Lord, work this way through me and through the daring men and women that I have the privilege of leading. May we be bold and strong and filled with your power and grace to make all the difference in our world.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Title: The Death Of Innocence / Topic: Moral-free Education
Today’s Reading: Genesis 3; Genesis 4; Genesis 5; Luke 2
Scripture: Genesis 3:10-11
10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
[Here's an extra ditty we received in an email about kids' ideas of what they learned in the Bible. One kid wrote, "He split the Adam and made Eve . Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet." Pretty funny.]
Observation: Getting back to the scripture, above, Adam and Eve weren't embarrassed about being naked because they weren't even aware that they were naked! Before they sinned, they were innocent. This is the similar to the condition of babies and little children (although even babies and little children do have an inborn sin nature). But little children are not self-conscious of being naked -- they are blissfully unaware of it.
Application: I just think of how much our culture "educates" everyone (including very little kids) about evil. Much of it is done with the misguided value that all education is good, but the effect on humanity is definitely not good. Little children (and even adults) don't need to know so much of what is broadcast today. The general common awareness of perversion has had the effect of normalizing it to the point that even unspeakable and hideous practices have become defined as mere "alternatives".
I love the words of the Apostle Paul who wrote: "I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil." (Romans 16:19) Education, just giving information, is not good unless within the context of a moral code which categorizes the subject matter and guides the formation of character. I know that evil and perversion have always existed, but how nice it would be to live in a culture in which these things are not promoted openly. Oh, to be innocent again.
Prayer: Lord, help us. We are in a swamp of moral degredation and all of us have been polluted by it. Help us to know how to purify ourselves in mind and spirit that we may be holy and pure. And protect our children from the ravages of immorality. Make your Church a holy and powerful thing once again.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Genesis 3:10-11
10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
[Here's an extra ditty we received in an email about kids' ideas of what they learned in the Bible. One kid wrote, "He split the Adam and made Eve . Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet." Pretty funny.]
Observation: Getting back to the scripture, above, Adam and Eve weren't embarrassed about being naked because they weren't even aware that they were naked! Before they sinned, they were innocent. This is the similar to the condition of babies and little children (although even babies and little children do have an inborn sin nature). But little children are not self-conscious of being naked -- they are blissfully unaware of it.
Application: I just think of how much our culture "educates" everyone (including very little kids) about evil. Much of it is done with the misguided value that all education is good, but the effect on humanity is definitely not good. Little children (and even adults) don't need to know so much of what is broadcast today. The general common awareness of perversion has had the effect of normalizing it to the point that even unspeakable and hideous practices have become defined as mere "alternatives".
I love the words of the Apostle Paul who wrote: "I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil." (Romans 16:19) Education, just giving information, is not good unless within the context of a moral code which categorizes the subject matter and guides the formation of character. I know that evil and perversion have always existed, but how nice it would be to live in a culture in which these things are not promoted openly. Oh, to be innocent again.
Prayer: Lord, help us. We are in a swamp of moral degredation and all of us have been polluted by it. Help us to know how to purify ourselves in mind and spirit that we may be holy and pure. And protect our children from the ravages of immorality. Make your Church a holy and powerful thing once again.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Title: True Freedom / Topic: God's Ways
Happy New Year!
Scripture: Genesis 2:16-17
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
Observation: What I noticed in these verses is what might look like a contradiction -- especially to the human side of our understanding. God says to Adam, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden.." Then he says, "but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil..." Doesn't this sound contradictory? "You are free to eat from any tree" -- then... "don't eat from that tree!" My human understanding says that God must be confused or inconsistent here.
Application: But what we are really seeing is God teaching Adam (and us) about true freedom. We mistakenly think that freedom means having the ability and right to do everything and anything we please. But apparently, that's not God's definition. God's kind of freedom has some boundaries -- restrictions indeed, but not designed to limit or restrict the benefits of the experience. Rather, these boundaries are for the purpose of actually enhancing and maximizing the benefits of the experience. These boundaries also require submission to an authority (in this case, God himself), and I would suggest that every freedom comes with some kind of boundary and some kind of authority that I must acknowledge and submit to. If I fail to do this, my exercise of the freedom is an abuse and ultimately destructive to myself and others.
The freedom that God gave to Adam was the greatest freedom that any human has every experienced. One simple boundary and the rest is available. By violating this one boundary, he imposed a sentence upon himself (and the rest of humanity) of limitless and grievous boundaries and bondages -- and incalculable damage. When we fail to embrace and submit to appropriate boundaries and authorities, we follow Adam into destructiveness and limitation. Ironically, by rejecting limits, we have imposed the greatest limitations upon ourselves and others imaginable.
Prayer: Lord, help us to learn this lesson about true freedom: that only by surrendering and submitting to you can we experience the fullness of what life has to offer. Help us to see that the path of "no boundaries" is a wide path that leads to destruction.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Title: He's Coming Soon / Topic: Christ's Return
Today’s Reading: Revelation 19; Revelation 20; Revelation 21; Revelation 22
Scripture: Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon."
Observation: The thrilling conclusion of the end of days as recorded in John's Revelation climaxes with the return of Jesus and the final judgments against those whose very nature seems to be hatred for God and rebellion against him. These words in verse 20 are great comfort from Jesus himself. "Yes, I am coming soon," he tells us.
Application: And this is the blessed hope for those who believe: Jesus is coming again to make all things right and to restore God's rightful rule over creation. As I look at the world on this last day of 2007, I wonder how much longer it can continue. We see wars and rumors of wars, great thrashing turmoil among so many nations around the world, and the shadow of threat of some kind of nuclear attack still darkens the earth. We witness a prevailing culture that is growing in a blatant rejection of God and his authority. Man's technology is becoming more and more powerful, and the advances in genetic research make human cloning a likely reality in a short time. Because of these things, it seems to me that Jesus' coming is so soon and the time is short. If this is true, what kind of lives should we be living?
Prayer: Lord, help us to pray and seek your face. Empower your people to follow you with passion and focus. I pray that Jesus would be clearly lifted up by your Church so that the true witness of Christ would be unmistakable to the world. Purify your people so the world may know that Jesus is Lord. Help me to follow you more closely, and never to forget that Jesus is coming soon.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Scripture: Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon."
Observation: The thrilling conclusion of the end of days as recorded in John's Revelation climaxes with the return of Jesus and the final judgments against those whose very nature seems to be hatred for God and rebellion against him. These words in verse 20 are great comfort from Jesus himself. "Yes, I am coming soon," he tells us.
Application: And this is the blessed hope for those who believe: Jesus is coming again to make all things right and to restore God's rightful rule over creation. As I look at the world on this last day of 2007, I wonder how much longer it can continue. We see wars and rumors of wars, great thrashing turmoil among so many nations around the world, and the shadow of threat of some kind of nuclear attack still darkens the earth. We witness a prevailing culture that is growing in a blatant rejection of God and his authority. Man's technology is becoming more and more powerful, and the advances in genetic research make human cloning a likely reality in a short time. Because of these things, it seems to me that Jesus' coming is so soon and the time is short. If this is true, what kind of lives should we be living?
Prayer: Lord, help us to pray and seek your face. Empower your people to follow you with passion and focus. I pray that Jesus would be clearly lifted up by your Church so that the true witness of Christ would be unmistakable to the world. Purify your people so the world may know that Jesus is Lord. Help me to follow you more closely, and never to forget that Jesus is coming soon.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
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