Saturday, April 26, 2008

Title: Soil Analysis / Topic: Personal Evaluation

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 1; Psalm 140; Matthew 13

Scripture: Matthew 13:3-9
3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 He who has ears, let him hear."

Observation: This whole chapter of Matthew is marvelous! So many rich truths as Jesus teaches in parables. This parable, commonly known as the Parable of the Sower, is actually the Parable of the Soils. And when I read it, I usually think of the different people I have met over the years and how they did or did not respond to the gospel. I apply this parable to the "them." But this morning, as I read, I began to think of the soil of my own life. How receptive am I to the seed of truth that God plants in my life?

Application: That is the main point of this parable. Not to look at others and try to figure out who is what kind of soil. But to examine myself -- to do personal soil analysis to see how the seed that God is planting in my heart is doing. Is it bringing forth fruit? Or is the seed just sitting there dormant? Or has the seed been removed by forgetfulness, or inaction, or other distractions? I want to be fruitful for the Lord. I want his truth to penetrate deep into my heart and to spring forth in new life and bring forth fruit. So I must do some personal evaluation. When I read the word, I must ask myself, "How do I put this into practice?" When I hear a teaching, I must evaluate my heart: "Am I doing this or do I need to change something to begin to do this?"

Prayer: Lord, help me to be a man who is good soil for your truth -- with abundant fruitfulness evident in my life. I want to be a good place for you to plant your richest seeds of wonderful truth.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Title: Nowhere Else To Turn / Topic: God's Help

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 30; 1 Samuel 31; 1 Chronicles 10; Matthew 12

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:3-6
3 When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive... 6 David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.

Observation: What a tough situation. David and his men return home to discover their town destroyed and their families taken. What heartache! And on top of this, David's men turn against him and talk of stoning him! When he needs someone to stand with him, there is no one there. That is why the last phrase in verse six is so significant: "But David found strength in the LORD his God." When there is nowhere else to turn, David turns to God. And he finds great strength there. Because he is does this, he is able to keep his composure and his wits about him and inquire of the Lord. When he gets a favorable response through the priest, he rallies his men to recover those that were taken.

Application: In the final analysis, God is the only one we can trust in. He is always there, always trustworthy, always up to the challenge, NO MATTER WHAT! Every other thing or person that we place our trust in will fail us at one time or another, but God will never fail us. He will always be there.

Prayer: Lord, I trust in you. Thank you for being there even in the darkest hour. When I am at my weakest, you show yourself strong. You are more than adequate for anything that life can bring. Thank you for your love and your power and for your availability and accessibility to me. May I always abide in your strength and your presence.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Title: Desperate For Answers / Topic: Spiritual Gifts

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 28; 1 Samuel 29; Psalm 109; Matthew 11

Scripture: 1 Samuel 28:5-7
5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. 6 He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. 7 Saul then said to his attendants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her."

Observation: This is such a sad and tragic scene. Saul had turned away from the Lord and the Lord had turned away from Saul. And now, Israel was under attack. Saul was terrified because he knew that God was not with him. He sought for answers from the Lord but got nothing. There was no response: "the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets." So Saul turns to another source to know anything about the spiritual realm: a medium.

Application: This makes me wonder about people who are fearful in their lives and who are seeking some kind of answers about what is happening to them. Sometimes these people actually come to church looking for those answers. And I wonder if they might come up empty as Saul did. Sadly, I think that this might happen to them, particularly since so many of our church people are not conversant in the spiritual gifts such as word of knowledge or word of wisdom, and so forth. And when these seekers come up empty at church, getting nothing from "dreams or Urim of prophets" (or pastors, teachers, and Christians), they might turn to alternate sources, like the occult. I think that it is more important than we know for us to be hearing from God. People are searching for answers. Will they find those answers from Jesus, from his Body?

Prayer: Lord, make me a source for people to find the information and answers they are seeking. Help me to be empowered in the spiritual gifts that I may be the vital link that answers the burning questions that people are asking.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Title: What Is God Seeking? / Topic: Worshippers

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 27; Psalm 141; 1 Chronicles 9; Matthew 10

Scripture: Psalm 141:2 May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

Observation: David is a worshipper. He prays to the Lord and worships as a regular and vital part of his life. David asks the Lord that his prayer would rise to God like the offering of incense in the Tabernacle and as he raises his hands in worship, that the Lord would receive it as the sacrifice offered each evening.

Application: This Psalm reminds me that our simple acts of worship have great significance to God. Last evening in our Bible study we discussed the encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman (aka the woman at the well). He tells her that the Lord is seeking worshipers who worship in spirit and truth. This means that our worship is sincere and comes from sincere hearts. So the Lord is looking around for those whose worship of him comes from the core of our being. David is such a person. And I want to be such a person as well. How about you? Join me in daily offering prayers as incense and lifting our hands as sacrifice to the Lord. When I do it with joy and from the heart, the Lord looks upon me and finds a worshipper that he is seeking.

Prayer: Oh Lord, gracious Father! I love you and thank you that you are looking for me -- and that you found me! May the worship and praises that I lift to you be as sweet and beautiful sacrifices that please you. May my worship be acceptable to you and may it be contagious to others who are seeking you.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Title: Shepherds Needed / Topic: Nurturing Leadership

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 25; 1 Samuel 26; Psalm 63; Matthew 9

Scripture: Matthew 9:36-38
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Observation: Jesus sees the people and they need help. Specifically he sees them like sheep who need a shepherd. These needy people need caring and nurturing leadership. Jesus says that workers are needed to meet the need. These workers are shepherds who will help the people.

Application: What an honor it is to be a worker for the Lord. And the calling of those who would lead is work -- it is not a white-collar job. It is a get-your-hands-dirty calling. The shepherd is to help the sheep who are harassed and helpless. (Now many of these sheep resist the help that the shepherd would bring, but that is another topic for another day.) The other thing that is needed is prayer to God to supply more workers -- we need more shepherds, more caring and nurturing leaders to help bring the fullness of God into people's lives.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the calling to be your worker, your shepherd. You are my shepherd. May I follow you well and may I receive from you all the care and nurture that you have for me. And help me to be a good shepherd to those you have called me to lead.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.