Friday, January 18, 2008

Title: The Prayer That Speaks To Me / Topic: Humility

Today’s Reading: Genesis 44; Genesis 45; Genesis 46; Luke 18

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Observation: "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." This is one the prayer in the Bible that I most identify with.

Application: There are Pharisees, those who take pride in their religious adherence or their spirituality, and there are tax collectors, those who know they far fall short of God's expectations. As a believer, I have always leaned more toward the latter, even though I have lived a relatively clean-cut lifestyle. I thank God that he made me with a built-in awareness that I need him desperately.

Prayer: Father, I thank you that you have mercy on me and that you are saving me daily. Help me to make full proof of all that you have graced me with. I love you, Lord.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Title: The Dead Body / Topic: Last Days

Today’s Reading: Genesis 42; Genesis 43; Psalm 5; Luke 17

Scripture: Luke 17:37 [Jesus] replied, "Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather."

Observation: I have often wondered about this verse. The context, as I have understood it is that Jesus is speaking to his disciples about his second coming, one person will be taken and the other left, and so forth. But then, when his disciples ask "where, Lord?" he makes this strange reply: "Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather." He could have simply said, "heaven," or "to be with my Father," or some such thing, but instead he speaks of dead bodies and vultures. What is it all about?

Application: As I pondered, I thought, "What does a dead body have to do with what else Jesus is saying?" This whole section is in response to a question asked by the Pharisees "when the kingdom of God would come." Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you." (vss. 20-21). Jesus then turns to his disciples and says, "The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it." (vs. 22). He compares this time to the "days of Noah" and the "days of Lot" where people just continued to live as if nothing was wrong even to the moment of God's terrible judgment. "People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage... buying and selling, planting and building." Life went on as if the people were in some kind of trance. And then judgment -- people are taken away. The disciples ask, "Where, Lord?" And Jesus gave this strange answer: "Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather."
I think Jesus is talking about the church. That is the dead body. (The saddest thing about a "dead body" church is that the people there are usually happy with it the way it is.) At the time of judgment, many people will be doing church as if everything is OK, but it will be a dead body, attracting vultures rather than sheep. His true disciples "will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man," but they "will not see it." But the dead church and its vultures will continue to play church. Jesus predicted that the love of most will grow cold but he who endures to the end will be saved. This is the same situation here.

Bottom line: Don't play church. Get close to Jesus. Stay humble and constantly repentant. I want to be a part of a living church filled with God's thriving flock, not a dead body attracting vultures.

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you always call people to a real and true living relationship with you. Lord, help me to keep it real. Keep me on the grow with you. And Lord, if I should ever slip into "doing church" same-o same-o, slap me or kick me or something to snap me out of it.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Title: God Sees / Topic: Personal Responsibility

Today’s Reading: Genesis 39; Genesis 40; Genesis 41; Luke 16

Scripture: Genesis 39:6-10
6 ...Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!"...
9 "...How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.

Observation: Joseph is alone, sold by his brothers as a slave, he is an alien in a foreign land. But Joseph does not act forsaken. He knows that God is still with him and that he still bears the responsibility to do the right thing before God. Joseph knows that even though his father and family and people are far away, and don't even know he is alive, God is with him and God sees what he does.

Application: This is the root of Joseph's personal responsibility. He has the deep conviction that his life is lived with God as a witness. He must do the right thing because God sees. That is one of the reasons that our culture is in trouble. We have gotten rid of the idea of God and therefore, people think that no one is watching them. So, who cares what I do? People behave better (and have better lives) when there is a strong culture belief in an all-seeing God.

Prayer: Lord, I know that you see me I am grateful that you are there. Help me to walk in a way that pleases you always.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Title: Lost And Found Celebrations / Topic: God's Nature

Today’s Reading: Genesis 37; Genesis 38; Psalm 7; Luke 15

Scripture: Luke 15 (selected verses)
1 Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

6 "...he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

9 ...she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate...
32 ...we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"

Observation: The contrast between Jesus and the "Pharisees and teachers of the law" is stark. They, with all their pomp and seriousness and self-aggrandizement, are grouchily muttering against Jesus' habit of hanging out with the wrong crowd. Jesus responds with three parables -- stories that make a point. And the point of all three stories is that God is nothing like these stick-in-the-mud, so-called leaders. The stories have a common theme: Lost and Found. And at the end of each of the stories (when the lost has been found), there is a celebration. Friends are called and they share in the party, rejoicing over the restoration of that which was lost. Jesus is teaching, "God is all about seeking and finding the lost. He doesn't care a bit for tradition -- his heart of love compels him to search for the lost. And once he finds them, God's nature is to celebrate!" I love what the prodigal's father says, "we had to celebrate and be glad..." In other words, God can't help himself! When the lost is found, a celebration is going to happen. It is his nature.

Application: If we are to be like our Father, we will be happy and celebrate. This doesn't mean that there won't be a time for seriousness, or sadness, or even mourning. But what characterizes us must be joy. Those who claim to represent God with nothing but seriousness and somberness are misrepresenting him. The Pharisees and their ilk are clueless as to how God really is. They might think that they are representing him, but they are living a lie. True children of the Father will be joyful and happy.

Prayer: Lord, I want to convey your joy with my words, actions, and attitudes. Help me to represent you faithfully, and help me to always be about seeking and finding the lost, and rejoicing when they are found.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Title: Unwise Associations / Topic: Choices

Today’s Reading: Genesis 34; Genesis 35; Genesis 36; Luke 14

Scripture: Genesis 34:1-2
1 Now Dinah, the daughter Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the women of the land. 2 When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of that area, saw her, he took her and violated her.

Observation: Dinah decides to make some new friends so she goes outside of her family circle and into the society of the pagan peoples that lived around them. I'm sure this seemed harmless to her and maybe even a benevolent kind of outreach. But the result is that Dinah is raped.

Application: Dinah put herself in a dangerous situation. By going outside of her clans, into a culture that she was unfamiliar with, and among people that she did not know, she was vulnerable. There was not protection for her and, apparently, the men in authority could take whatever liberties they desired. And so Dinah was helpless to stop the assault against her.

Bottom line: It is common for people, young people especially, to make unwise associations with others who seem exciting and counterculture. So often, however, these associations result in great harm to those who engage in them. The choices we make in selecting our friends have much more to do with our destiny than we think. Choose friends who are solid in their commitment to Jesus. And when you move outside of that circle, have others around to protect you from harm.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for illustrations that can teach us how to stay safe. I pray for all our young people -- that they will have godly friends and that they will stay away from unsavory and questionable individuals. Lord, keep us and those we care for safely in your protection.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Title: The Plea Of The Schemer / Topic: Prayer

Today’s Reading: Genesis 31; Genesis 32; Genesis 33; Luke 13

Scripture: Genesis 32:9-12
9 Then Jacob prayed, "O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who said to me, 'Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,' 10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two groups. 11 Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. 12 But you have said, 'I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.'"

Observation: I just love this prayer. Jacob is humble, "I am unworthy...", he is honest and open, "I am afraid [of Esau]", and he reminds God of the promises he has given to him, "But you have said."

Application: This is a smart prayer. It's always a good idea to quote God to God! It's like appealing to a parent, "remember what you said..." I think God liked this prayer too. [It is interesting to note that after praying this prayer asking God to save him, Jacob schemes and plots various scenarios to save himself. But God saves Jacob anyway.]

Prayer: Lord, thank you for hearing our prayers, even when we have a bit (or a lot) of inner dissonance. Lord, I believe. Help me in my unbelief.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.