Today’s Reading: Genesis 29; Genesis 30; Luke 12
Scripture: Luke 12:13-14
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
14 Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?"
Observation: Jesus, who obviously could have given advice or even proclaimed a judgment about this matter, says no. He doesn't allow himself to be drawn into something that is outside of his calling and responsibility.
Application: The word that comes to mind is boundaries. And here Jesus demonstrates for us one important concept: "saying no." It is vital to not be distracted from my own calling and priorities.
Prayer: Lord, help me to stay focused and directed to the things that you have called me to do.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Friday, January 11, 2008
Title: Keep Out! / Topic: Lousy Leaders
Today’s Reading: Genesis 27; Genesis 28; Psalm 4; Luke 11
Scripture: Luke 11:52 "Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering."
Observation: Jesus is holding nothing back as he verbally assaults the Jewish leaders. The Pharisees and teachers of the law held themselves up as models of perfection and virtue -- and looked down on the "common people." In addition, they didn't like Jesus and he returned the favor. Here Jesus issues an indictment that is a little scary. These so called religious leaders "have taken away the key to knowledge." They have effectively locked the door which leads to God, keeping themselves out and making it difficult for others from entering.
Application: I don't think there is a much more serious charge against a spiritual leader than this: leading others astray and keeping them away from God. Unfortunately, I have seen it in many pastors, and other so called Christian leaders I have known. And even worse, I have probably been guilty of this myself at times.
The key is for leaders to keep away from pride, because pride leads down a deadly road for both the leader and his followers. If you are a leader, check your motivation. Do you want people to look up to you and think highly of you because of your position or your spirituality? If so, watch out. Jesus gave his leaders and the rest of us warnings about this once when they "had argued about who was the greatest." Jesus told them, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." (Mark 9:34-35) And "He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:2-4)
Prayer: Lord, help me to be and to lead others into a path of leadership that mirrors the attitudes of Jesus himself. May we serve others with an eye to their betterment and blessing and not consider our own standing or reputation or fame. May we lead like Jesus did.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Luke 11:52 "Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering."
Observation: Jesus is holding nothing back as he verbally assaults the Jewish leaders. The Pharisees and teachers of the law held themselves up as models of perfection and virtue -- and looked down on the "common people." In addition, they didn't like Jesus and he returned the favor. Here Jesus issues an indictment that is a little scary. These so called religious leaders "have taken away the key to knowledge." They have effectively locked the door which leads to God, keeping themselves out and making it difficult for others from entering.
Application: I don't think there is a much more serious charge against a spiritual leader than this: leading others astray and keeping them away from God. Unfortunately, I have seen it in many pastors, and other so called Christian leaders I have known. And even worse, I have probably been guilty of this myself at times.
The key is for leaders to keep away from pride, because pride leads down a deadly road for both the leader and his followers. If you are a leader, check your motivation. Do you want people to look up to you and think highly of you because of your position or your spirituality? If so, watch out. Jesus gave his leaders and the rest of us warnings about this once when they "had argued about who was the greatest." Jesus told them, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." (Mark 9:34-35) And "He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:2-4)
Prayer: Lord, help me to be and to lead others into a path of leadership that mirrors the attitudes of Jesus himself. May we serve others with an eye to their betterment and blessing and not consider our own standing or reputation or fame. May we lead like Jesus did.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Title: Stop The Flow / Topic: Destructive Attitude
Today’s Reading: Genesis 25; Genesis 26; Psalm 6; Luke 10
Scripture: Genesis 26:12-15
12 Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him. 13 The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. 14 He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. 15 So all the wells that his father's servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with earth.
Observation: Isaac is blessed of God and it is reflected in his income. The Philistines see Isaac's wealth grow and grow and they become envious and resentful. They decide to exert their energies into filling the wells up with dirt, to stop the flow of water.
Application: Envy, hate, resentment -- these are destructive attitudes. The Philistines could have admired Isaac and used his success as an inspiration to succeed themselves. But they saw themselves as victims and Isaac as someone to focus their negativity toward. So the outflow of all that venom was to exert themselves in destructive activity. What is so sad is that they stopped up all the wells that Abraham had dug, which includes many which belonged to the Philistines themselves! They stopped the flow of water not only to Isaac but to themselves too! And this illustrates an important truth: negative attitudes toward others are more damaging to the person who holds them than to anyone else. Make no mistake, they are hurtful to others. But the primary victim of hate, spite, resentment and unforgiveness is the one who holds these destructive attitudes in his heart.
Bottom line: Stay sweet. Let go of offenses and walk in forgiveness and grace. Ask God to help you. Stay sweet and live will be sweeter.
Prayer: Lord, keep me far away from destructive attitudes. I want to keep the flow of grace and love and forgiveness going in my life.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Genesis 26:12-15
12 Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him. 13 The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. 14 He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. 15 So all the wells that his father's servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with earth.
Observation: Isaac is blessed of God and it is reflected in his income. The Philistines see Isaac's wealth grow and grow and they become envious and resentful. They decide to exert their energies into filling the wells up with dirt, to stop the flow of water.
Application: Envy, hate, resentment -- these are destructive attitudes. The Philistines could have admired Isaac and used his success as an inspiration to succeed themselves. But they saw themselves as victims and Isaac as someone to focus their negativity toward. So the outflow of all that venom was to exert themselves in destructive activity. What is so sad is that they stopped up all the wells that Abraham had dug, which includes many which belonged to the Philistines themselves! They stopped the flow of water not only to Isaac but to themselves too! And this illustrates an important truth: negative attitudes toward others are more damaging to the person who holds them than to anyone else. Make no mistake, they are hurtful to others. But the primary victim of hate, spite, resentment and unforgiveness is the one who holds these destructive attitudes in his heart.
Bottom line: Stay sweet. Let go of offenses and walk in forgiveness and grace. Ask God to help you. Stay sweet and live will be sweeter.
Prayer: Lord, keep me far away from destructive attitudes. I want to keep the flow of grace and love and forgiveness going in my life.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Title: It's Gonna Cost You / Topic: Discipleship
Today’s Reading: Genesis 23; Genesis 24; Luke 9
Scripture: Luke 9:57-62
57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
58 Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
59 He said to another man, "Follow me."
But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
61 Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family."
62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
Observation: I love the fact that Jesus doesn't mince words here. He doesn't soft-sell the requirements of true discipleship. He says if you want to follow me, it's gonna cost you.
Application: So often we are so desperate to get workers or volunteers or converts that we minimize the costs or avoid the subject altogether. Jesus is a great example of front-loading the discussion with the true costs of discipleship. Earlier in this same chapter he had plainly said this to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (vs. 26). We need to take a cue from Jesus. So many of those who we win without really disclosing the cost end up bailing out when the going gets tough.
Prayer: Lord, give us courage to speak the truth and faith to trust you to provide disciples willing to take up the challenge. Lord, give us the people we need. Give us the words to lead them to true discipleship.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Luke 9:57-62
57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
58 Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
59 He said to another man, "Follow me."
But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
61 Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family."
62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
Observation: I love the fact that Jesus doesn't mince words here. He doesn't soft-sell the requirements of true discipleship. He says if you want to follow me, it's gonna cost you.
Application: So often we are so desperate to get workers or volunteers or converts that we minimize the costs or avoid the subject altogether. Jesus is a great example of front-loading the discussion with the true costs of discipleship. Earlier in this same chapter he had plainly said this to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (vs. 26). We need to take a cue from Jesus. So many of those who we win without really disclosing the cost end up bailing out when the going gets tough.
Prayer: Lord, give us courage to speak the truth and faith to trust you to provide disciples willing to take up the challenge. Lord, give us the people we need. Give us the words to lead them to true discipleship.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Title: Good Soil = Good Character / Topic: Fruitfulness
Today’s Reading: Genesis 20; Genesis 21; Genesis 22; Luke 8
Scripture: Luke 8 (excerpts - good soil accented)
8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown."
When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
...10 He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,
" 'though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not understand.'
11 "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
...18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him."
...21 He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice."
Observation: Jesus speaks quite a bit here about people who actually believe and implement the word, not just hearing it, but putting it into practice. This is a practical definition of "good soil." The seed is good, and has the potential to produce a rich crop, but it cannot produce a crop by itself. It requires receptive, good soil to do that. Notice that even two of the unproductive soils take the seed in and show some results. But they lack the qualities to actually produce a crop. The problem relates to character. The character of the soils is infertile. That is, they don't possess the qualities necessary to sustain the growth of the plant.
Application: How does character affect fruitfulness? I think that character is the foundation of fruitfulness. Jesus says that the "good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart." This speaks of character. And the result is that they "hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop." It is their character, which they have cultivated that enables this process to advance to fruition. Even the fact that they persevere demonstrates some character qualities such as determination, dedication, and consistency.
Bottom line: Character counts. People who compromise in life thinking that it won't affect them later are deceiving themselves and forfeiting their future for some present pleasure. Those who stick to righteousness are laying a foundation for a future harvest that will prove their efforts to be ultimately very worthwhile.
Prayer: Lord, I want to be a man of fruitfulness and I want to help produce fruitful people. Help me to keep cultivating Godly character in my own life and to inspire it in others. I pray for a great harvest.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Luke 8 (excerpts - good soil accented)
8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown."
When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
...10 He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,
" 'though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not understand.'
11 "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
...18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him."
...21 He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice."
Observation: Jesus speaks quite a bit here about people who actually believe and implement the word, not just hearing it, but putting it into practice. This is a practical definition of "good soil." The seed is good, and has the potential to produce a rich crop, but it cannot produce a crop by itself. It requires receptive, good soil to do that. Notice that even two of the unproductive soils take the seed in and show some results. But they lack the qualities to actually produce a crop. The problem relates to character. The character of the soils is infertile. That is, they don't possess the qualities necessary to sustain the growth of the plant.
Application: How does character affect fruitfulness? I think that character is the foundation of fruitfulness. Jesus says that the "good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart." This speaks of character. And the result is that they "hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop." It is their character, which they have cultivated that enables this process to advance to fruition. Even the fact that they persevere demonstrates some character qualities such as determination, dedication, and consistency.
Bottom line: Character counts. People who compromise in life thinking that it won't affect them later are deceiving themselves and forfeiting their future for some present pleasure. Those who stick to righteousness are laying a foundation for a future harvest that will prove their efforts to be ultimately very worthwhile.
Prayer: Lord, I want to be a man of fruitfulness and I want to help produce fruitful people. Help me to keep cultivating Godly character in my own life and to inspire it in others. I pray for a great harvest.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Title: No Cool Love / Topic: Pride
Today’s Reading: Genesis 18; Genesis 19; Psalm 3; Luke 7
Scripture: Luke 7:41-47
41 "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
43 Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
Observation: "He who has been forgiven little loves little." These words of Jesus speak to me. People who have gotten involved in deeply depraved behaviors are generally aware that they are "sinners." And when they come to God, they most often have a deep love and fervor for the Lord, being so grateful for the depths to which God went to save them. But many who lived "good lives" (the ones who colored inside the lines) often feel their goodness actually entitles them to God's approval -- they think they deserve God's love! What deception -- and this born of pride. The simple fact is that even the best person in the world is far removed from God's holiness. In fact, some of "the best and brightest" have so much pride that they push God away, arrogantly deeming themselves sufficient without him.
Application: Pride is truly the worst of sins and keeps many people from authentically accepting God. And many "good" people who become churchgoers or religious don't truly have a deep love for God. They like looking good and simply believe that being in church enhances that appearance.
I want to be a person who is so aware of my own neediness apart from God that I love him deeply. I want to be like this sinful woman who wasn't embarrassed to fawn over him with tears of affection and actions of love and appreciation and admiration.
Prayer: Lord, keep me from a "cool" faith. I want to be so in love with you that the show I make of my love for you could actually embarrass others. I want to love you passionately and I want to show it openly.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Luke 7:41-47
41 "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
43 Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
Observation: "He who has been forgiven little loves little." These words of Jesus speak to me. People who have gotten involved in deeply depraved behaviors are generally aware that they are "sinners." And when they come to God, they most often have a deep love and fervor for the Lord, being so grateful for the depths to which God went to save them. But many who lived "good lives" (the ones who colored inside the lines) often feel their goodness actually entitles them to God's approval -- they think they deserve God's love! What deception -- and this born of pride. The simple fact is that even the best person in the world is far removed from God's holiness. In fact, some of "the best and brightest" have so much pride that they push God away, arrogantly deeming themselves sufficient without him.
Application: Pride is truly the worst of sins and keeps many people from authentically accepting God. And many "good" people who become churchgoers or religious don't truly have a deep love for God. They like looking good and simply believe that being in church enhances that appearance.
I want to be a person who is so aware of my own neediness apart from God that I love him deeply. I want to be like this sinful woman who wasn't embarrassed to fawn over him with tears of affection and actions of love and appreciation and admiration.
Prayer: Lord, keep me from a "cool" faith. I want to be so in love with you that the show I make of my love for you could actually embarrass others. I want to love you passionately and I want to show it openly.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Title: Stuck On Stupid / Topic: Spiritual Blindness
Today’s Reading: Genesis 15; Genesis 16; Genesis 17; Luke 6
Scripture: Luke 6:6-11
6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Get up and stand in front of everyone." So he got up and stood there.
9 Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?"
10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11 But they were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Observation: It is totally amazing to me that people who think that they are spiritual can be so spiritual blind. Here, a man is miraculously healed. But they don't even see the healing. They see a violation of the law that says you shouldn't work on the Sabbath. Now if the man was miraculously healed, who did it? God. And if God did it, aren't they accusing God of breaking the law that he made. This is the height of arrogance -- and very stupid to boot.
Application: It just shows that people can get it so wrong -- even people who have made a specialty out of trying to get it right, and those who try to teach others.
Prayer: Lord, help me to stay far away from this kind of error. Keep my heart and my thinking fixed on you and on truth. And help me never to be so full of knowledge that I get stupid.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Luke 6:6-11
6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Get up and stand in front of everyone." So he got up and stood there.
9 Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?"
10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11 But they were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Observation: It is totally amazing to me that people who think that they are spiritual can be so spiritual blind. Here, a man is miraculously healed. But they don't even see the healing. They see a violation of the law that says you shouldn't work on the Sabbath. Now if the man was miraculously healed, who did it? God. And if God did it, aren't they accusing God of breaking the law that he made. This is the height of arrogance -- and very stupid to boot.
Application: It just shows that people can get it so wrong -- even people who have made a specialty out of trying to get it right, and those who try to teach others.
Prayer: Lord, help me to stay far away from this kind of error. Keep my heart and my thinking fixed on you and on truth. And help me never to be so full of knowledge that I get stupid.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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