Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 11; 2 Kings 12; 2 Chronicles 24; 1 Timothy 6
Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:11-12
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Observation: Paul is writing to Timothy, his dear son in the faith. This is Paul's charge to Timothy. Paul encourages Timothy, calling him "man of God" to "flee from" materialism and desires and pursuits related to it. Timothy is instructed to "pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness," godly character qualities, and to "fight the good fight of the faith..." and to "take hold of the eternal life to which you were called..."
Application: Stick to the basics. That is what I hear Paul saying. We, especially leaders, can get wrapped up in all kinds of peripheral pursuits. As a pastor, there is a constant pressure for increasing church attendance, and there are thousands of ideas and gimmicks for producing greater numbers. As a 21st century American, there is constant pressure toward wealth. But Paul says, "don't let these things move you from the focus on the basics." So what are the basics? Godly character and eternal life. These are pursuits truly worth pursuing. Paul points out that those who seek worldly gain have "pierced themselves with many griefs." But pursuing godliness and eternal life are always good, always positive, always worthwhile.
Prayer: Lord, I want to pursue you and your character in my life. Help me in my many activities to maintain this focus. I don't want to try to gain the world. I want to gain you, your character, and eternal life. Help me to be successful in your ways and in your eyes.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Title: I Don't Much Like This God / Topic: God's Negative Side
Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 10; 2 Chronicles 22; 2 Chronicles 23; 1 Timothy 5
Scripture: 2 Kings 10:30 The LORD said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes and have done to the house of Ahab all I had in mind to do, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation."
Observation: Jehu, King of Israel, is one of the bloodiest characters in the Bible. He is responsible for the slaughter of the entire family of Ahab, including 70 young royal sons, whose heads are put into two piles at the city gate of Samaria. As I was reading through the stories, I was thinking how horrible it all was. Then I came across verse 30 where the Lord commends Jehu and evaluates him quite favorably, "...you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes...", and promises him a reward for his butchery!
Application: Wow! There is more to our Lord than the "nice God" that has been portrayed in most of our churches. I will be honest to say that I am not totally comfortable with the harsh, retributional, and even vengeful aspects of God's nature. But whether or not I am OK with it, God is the way God is -- he doesn't ask or need our approval or endorsement. The fact is that there is nothing about God that needs to change, so if I don't like something about God, it is I who need to change. I think it was the great preacher Jonathan Edwards who penned the sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, over a hundred years ago. Most of us "modern Christians" don't relate to God as an "angry God", and subsequently we have lost much of the "fear of the Lord" in our churches and in Christians in general. "God is love." "His grace is sufficient for me." "By grace are we saved." These are the ideas that we most identify with God and the result is that the church is very casual about God and not at all worried about judgment from him for themselves. It would be a good idea if we modified our thinking to include attributes of God where his vengeance is meted out to those who are not careful to follow his ways. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Prayer: Lord, you are an awesome God. Help your people to understand and know you better so that we will conduct our lives with appropriate reverent fear.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: 2 Kings 10:30 The LORD said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes and have done to the house of Ahab all I had in mind to do, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation."
Observation: Jehu, King of Israel, is one of the bloodiest characters in the Bible. He is responsible for the slaughter of the entire family of Ahab, including 70 young royal sons, whose heads are put into two piles at the city gate of Samaria. As I was reading through the stories, I was thinking how horrible it all was. Then I came across verse 30 where the Lord commends Jehu and evaluates him quite favorably, "...you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes...", and promises him a reward for his butchery!
Application: Wow! There is more to our Lord than the "nice God" that has been portrayed in most of our churches. I will be honest to say that I am not totally comfortable with the harsh, retributional, and even vengeful aspects of God's nature. But whether or not I am OK with it, God is the way God is -- he doesn't ask or need our approval or endorsement. The fact is that there is nothing about God that needs to change, so if I don't like something about God, it is I who need to change. I think it was the great preacher Jonathan Edwards who penned the sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, over a hundred years ago. Most of us "modern Christians" don't relate to God as an "angry God", and subsequently we have lost much of the "fear of the Lord" in our churches and in Christians in general. "God is love." "His grace is sufficient for me." "By grace are we saved." These are the ideas that we most identify with God and the result is that the church is very casual about God and not at all worried about judgment from him for themselves. It would be a good idea if we modified our thinking to include attributes of God where his vengeance is meted out to those who are not careful to follow his ways. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Prayer: Lord, you are an awesome God. Help your people to understand and know you better so that we will conduct our lives with appropriate reverent fear.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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