Title: Locked Out! / Topic: The Key To Knowledge

Today’s Reading: Genesis 27, 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 ticked! And what Jesus says here is so interesting because he mentions a "key to knowledge" and tells the teachers that they have taken it away and "hindered those who were entering." I'm not sure just what the "key to knowledge" is but it fascinates me to think that there is such a key and that leaders can do things to make it (and God) inaccessible to people.

Application: I take that to imply that leaders also have the capability to do things to make the key to knowledge more accessible to people. So that makes me ponder, "What kinds of things make this key more accessible and encourage people to enter in?"

In other words, what can I do as a leader to make it easier for people to have access to truth and access to God? Here is a list of things that come to mind: 1) providing clarity in the delivery of the message, 2) using words easy to grasp, 3) removing distractions in the delivery of the message, 4) making the word relevant to the people, 5) the teacher must have character that lines up with the message, 6) telling the truth, 7) respecting people. So these are some that come to me right now. This seems like a "John the Baptist calling": prepare the way for the Lord, make a level path by making the high places lower, the low places higher, and the crooked places straighter. Then get out of the way and let the Lord come through.

(The reverse is also true. If I don't do these things, and, in fact, do the opposite, I am working against God and people can be locked out as a result.)

Prayer: Father, help me to be a man who opens doors for people to be able to have easy access to truth and to you. May my live and message be that which makes the key to knowledge available to all who desire to unlock the door that leads to you.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: If You Do What Is Right / Topic: The Victim

Today’s Reading: Genesis 3, 4, 5; Luke 2

Scripture: Genesis 4:4-7

The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”

Observation: We are not told why God accepted Abel's offering but rejected Cain's. Some Bible teachers and theologians have come up with ideas about Abel raising animals which was more dependent upon God than Cain's working the garden. But that never made any sense to me, both of these occupations are dependent upon God. The farmer can't make the plants sprout any more than the rancher can make the animals reproduce. These things happen because God created animals and plants to do what they do. I think it must have been that Abel brought the good stuff and Cain brought some not-so-good stuff. (There is a lot of produce that is not-so-good.) But whatever it was, Cain knew exactly what to do. God speaks to him and warns him about his anger and lousy attitude: "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?" He tells him: "Shape up. Do what you know is right. And the rejection will be gone." But of course, Cain doesn't do what is right. He is ticked, but not with himself or his failure to do the right thing. No, he is angry at his brother Abel, who did the right thing. And Cain says Abel is the selfish 1% and Cain is going to Occupy Abel. And rather than fix his own problem, Cain kills his brother.

Application: Even a direct warning from God himself cannot change the mind of a person determined to play the victim. Lord help us.

Prayer: Lord help us.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: God Shows Up / Topic: Mind-Numbed Religion

Today’s Reading: Genesis 1, 2; Luke 1

Scripture: Luke 1:21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple.

Observation: The worshipers at the Temple were expecting Zechariah to come out quickly and were surprised when he did not.

Application: It seems that they had, in those days, reduced the priestly intercession in the Holy of Holies to a brief affair. Perhaps just mumbling a few ritualized words memorized over the centuries by hundreds of priests who each took their turn, one by one, in that sacred place. Just going through the motions. Mind-numbed religion. No one expected anything to happen. No one thought that God would actually show up and do business. Surprise!

I think this is not unlike us today. We "do church" pretty much the same way week after week. We show up and put in our time and go home. What if God actually made an appearance and had something to say? I suspect that some folks might be mad that the service didn't end on time.

Prayer: Lord, please surprise us and show up. And may we be expecting you and ready for you.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.