Today's Passage: Luke 18
I approach this blog today with a lot reflection about the our American culture concerning the desire for success. Much of what was discussed in our Growth Group on Sunday is still stirring in me. Particularly how God's idea of success and our culture's idea are often quite opposite. When I turn to read Luke 18, I see prayers of persistence and faith relating to the culture.
Jesus in his brilliance of storytelling and teaching in parables shows how a persistent widow finally got justice. Often in Jesus' parables there is an a fortiori style. Meaning he is bringing his argument from small to great. So if the unjust and selfish judge brought justice to a widow, how much more will God do on this earth? The answer is infinitely greater!
In returning to my personal reflection of the success mindset in America, I am quite sure that we would consider the widow a failure. Mainly due to the fact that her justice was not received soon after she asked. We connect the immediate to success (i.e. iphone, twitter, laptops, facebook, etc.). We can do anything from anywhere at anytime. In doing so, our mindset becomes, "Well if can't get results immediately then I'll just go on to something else to entertain me." I am as guilty as the next guy. However, I personally want to rediscover the art of persistence, specifically in prayer. I am humbly reminded that I need to bring my requests and burdens to my Father until He lifts them with either a yes, no, or simply not now. I hope others will join me in this rediscovery.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Today's Passage: 2 Samuel 23-24
In this passage we find the end of David's psalm of thanksgiving that he started in chapter 22. This is followed by an account of who David's mighty men were, but we will read more about them in 1 Chronicles 11. The passage that God drew me to was chapter 24 and David's census.
We have reached the end of 2 Samuel and by now we have seen that David has experienced quite a bit. We have witnessed that things haven't been the same since the situation with Bathsheba and that David has caused more than just his own suffering. Now to complicate things even more, in chapter 24 David follows God's command to take a census, but does so for the wrong reasons. I have to admit that when I read this passage for the first time I didn't understand why David was saying that he had sinned. My thought was "he did what God asked him to do, take a census of Israel and Judah." It wasn't until I looked up this passage in a commentary and read that David's sin wasn't his actions but the motives behind his actions. See David did what God wanted him to, but he did so thinking that he would find Judah (his people) with the stronger numbers. When he was faced with the reverse it brought his true desires to light.
The actions that David took after realizing his mistake is what makes him a great role model for us as believers. He recognizes his mistake and instead of making an excuse he does everything in his power to make it right with God. That is a man after God's own heart. I want you to ask yourself something honestly. Judging by your actions and motives could you be described as being a man or woman after God's own heart? I challenge you to make it a goal this week to question your motives when it comes to doing something "for God." Ask yourself: Am I doing this to bring God the attention and respect that He deserves, or am I doing this to make myself feel or look better?
Let all thing be for His glory... even how we handle our mistakes.
In this passage we find the end of David's psalm of thanksgiving that he started in chapter 22. This is followed by an account of who David's mighty men were, but we will read more about them in 1 Chronicles 11. The passage that God drew me to was chapter 24 and David's census.
We have reached the end of 2 Samuel and by now we have seen that David has experienced quite a bit. We have witnessed that things haven't been the same since the situation with Bathsheba and that David has caused more than just his own suffering. Now to complicate things even more, in chapter 24 David follows God's command to take a census, but does so for the wrong reasons. I have to admit that when I read this passage for the first time I didn't understand why David was saying that he had sinned. My thought was "he did what God asked him to do, take a census of Israel and Judah." It wasn't until I looked up this passage in a commentary and read that David's sin wasn't his actions but the motives behind his actions. See David did what God wanted him to, but he did so thinking that he would find Judah (his people) with the stronger numbers. When he was faced with the reverse it brought his true desires to light.
The actions that David took after realizing his mistake is what makes him a great role model for us as believers. He recognizes his mistake and instead of making an excuse he does everything in his power to make it right with God. That is a man after God's own heart. I want you to ask yourself something honestly. Judging by your actions and motives could you be described as being a man or woman after God's own heart? I challenge you to make it a goal this week to question your motives when it comes to doing something "for God." Ask yourself: Am I doing this to bring God the attention and respect that He deserves, or am I doing this to make myself feel or look better?
Let all thing be for His glory... even how we handle our mistakes.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Today's Passage: 2 Samuel 19-20
There is a lot of confusion and pain in this passage of scripture. David grieves for the loss of his son. Joab is angry because of David's reaction. The people don't know who will be king. The tribes are divided as to who they will follow. People who cursed David are afraid for their lives, and people who followed David rejoice at his return. Some even try to overthrow David before his kingdom can be established again. Much pain...much confusion...much anger...much trouble.
All of this can be traced back to David's poor choice with Bathsheba. This is the chaos that God told David would come from his sin. These are the consequences of adultery, murder and lying. The king's family is torn apart. The kingdom is torn apart. People's lives are torn apart. And all of this is from one bad choice.
When we choose things other than God's way, there are consequences...and sometimes, there are consequences to those around us. Children suffer when a marriage dissolves. Employees suffer when a supervisor makes an unethical decision. Families and friends can be torn apart. This is the ugly side to sin that Satan never shows us when temptation is presented! When things look so good, so shiny, so beautiful...no one is there to show you the destruction.
We would be wise to remember the chaos of these verses...they may keep us from heading toward chaos of our own!
There is a lot of confusion and pain in this passage of scripture. David grieves for the loss of his son. Joab is angry because of David's reaction. The people don't know who will be king. The tribes are divided as to who they will follow. People who cursed David are afraid for their lives, and people who followed David rejoice at his return. Some even try to overthrow David before his kingdom can be established again. Much pain...much confusion...much anger...much trouble.
All of this can be traced back to David's poor choice with Bathsheba. This is the chaos that God told David would come from his sin. These are the consequences of adultery, murder and lying. The king's family is torn apart. The kingdom is torn apart. People's lives are torn apart. And all of this is from one bad choice.
When we choose things other than God's way, there are consequences...and sometimes, there are consequences to those around us. Children suffer when a marriage dissolves. Employees suffer when a supervisor makes an unethical decision. Families and friends can be torn apart. This is the ugly side to sin that Satan never shows us when temptation is presented! When things look so good, so shiny, so beautiful...no one is there to show you the destruction.
We would be wise to remember the chaos of these verses...they may keep us from heading toward chaos of our own!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Today's Passage: Luke 17
Verses 11-19 hold one of my favorite stories in Luke. Jesus is walking down the road when 10 men with leprosy approach from a distance...they would not have been allowed to come very close. They cry out to Jesus for healing, and Jesus sends them to the priests. When they arrive, they are healed from this horrible disease. What an amazing day that must have been for them...they would be able to re-enter society, return to their families...they had been given new life!
But out of those 10 men, only one of them even thinks to come back and thank Jesus for this unbelievable gift. One out of 10 went back praising God in a loud voice. One out of 10 fell at His feet. And that one, scripture tells us, was a Samaritan...someone who wouldn't think to approach a Jew, let alone the Son of God.
Jesus asks a very short but powerful question: "Where are the other nine?" All received healing, but only one was willing to demonstrate his gratitude. The others went back to their lives as if it was just an accident they were alive again.
We are alive...do we live lives of gratitude to the one who gave us life? Do we take the time to praise Him and thank Him for all He's done for us? Or will we, like those here, just go about our daily lives as if we stumbled on an accidental miracle?
Verses 11-19 hold one of my favorite stories in Luke. Jesus is walking down the road when 10 men with leprosy approach from a distance...they would not have been allowed to come very close. They cry out to Jesus for healing, and Jesus sends them to the priests. When they arrive, they are healed from this horrible disease. What an amazing day that must have been for them...they would be able to re-enter society, return to their families...they had been given new life!
But out of those 10 men, only one of them even thinks to come back and thank Jesus for this unbelievable gift. One out of 10 went back praising God in a loud voice. One out of 10 fell at His feet. And that one, scripture tells us, was a Samaritan...someone who wouldn't think to approach a Jew, let alone the Son of God.
Jesus asks a very short but powerful question: "Where are the other nine?" All received healing, but only one was willing to demonstrate his gratitude. The others went back to their lives as if it was just an accident they were alive again.
We are alive...do we live lives of gratitude to the one who gave us life? Do we take the time to praise Him and thank Him for all He's done for us? Or will we, like those here, just go about our daily lives as if we stumbled on an accidental miracle?
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Today's Passage: 2 Samuel 17-18
Wow! David sure has dealt with his share of hardships! But God's hand is on him entirely. I love learning from David's life because he messed up...a lot. Yet God protected him and used him to make His name great among the nations. David is even in the line of Jesus.
Absalom has a lot going on. He's been through a lot. Many bad things have happened in his life. In these two chapters, we see him back in Jerusalem. He has been trying to subvert David's authority and put a kink in things for him. One of those things was to get Ahithophel to switch from David's confidence to Absalom's. As Absalom is asking him for advice, Ahithophel is convincing him to kill his father! Chapter 16:23 says that his advice was "like that of one who inquires of God." That is how David and Absalom viewed his opinion. Yet, in 17:14 we read that God had been sovereign in not allowing Ahithophel's advice to be taken. Instead Hushai's words were heeded and disaster was to come on Absalom instead of David.
Even after all that, David still mourned the death of Absalom. It truly saddened him deeply that his son was killed during battle. I wonder if David ever inquired after the Lord to see just what he was up to. I cannot imagine that it was easy for David to live his life, with all the things that happened to him and his family. Yet God, in his infinite wisdom and sovereignty, chose to always bring David through those situations. I don't know if these points all make sense to you or not, but for me it is so comforting to see the sovereignty of God in play.
Wow! David sure has dealt with his share of hardships! But God's hand is on him entirely. I love learning from David's life because he messed up...a lot. Yet God protected him and used him to make His name great among the nations. David is even in the line of Jesus.
Absalom has a lot going on. He's been through a lot. Many bad things have happened in his life. In these two chapters, we see him back in Jerusalem. He has been trying to subvert David's authority and put a kink in things for him. One of those things was to get Ahithophel to switch from David's confidence to Absalom's. As Absalom is asking him for advice, Ahithophel is convincing him to kill his father! Chapter 16:23 says that his advice was "like that of one who inquires of God." That is how David and Absalom viewed his opinion. Yet, in 17:14 we read that God had been sovereign in not allowing Ahithophel's advice to be taken. Instead Hushai's words were heeded and disaster was to come on Absalom instead of David.
Even after all that, David still mourned the death of Absalom. It truly saddened him deeply that his son was killed during battle. I wonder if David ever inquired after the Lord to see just what he was up to. I cannot imagine that it was easy for David to live his life, with all the things that happened to him and his family. Yet God, in his infinite wisdom and sovereignty, chose to always bring David through those situations. I don't know if these points all make sense to you or not, but for me it is so comforting to see the sovereignty of God in play.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Sunday , September 13, 2009
Today's Passage: 2 Samuel 21-22
In chapter 21, David faces the Philistines again, specifically the descendants of Goliath. Again, God is faithful and delivers David. Have you noticed that some battles seem to come back again and again in our lives? We can identify with David in this struggle. God demonstrates His faithfulness each time, proving once again, He never changes.
In chapter 22, David praises God in detail for what He has done in his life. He once said to Goliath, "The Lord will deliver you into my hand." In this chapter, he says in verse 30, "For by You I can run upon a troop; by my God I can leap over a wall." David lived a life of dependence on God alone. What a testimony! I love the pictures he paints of what God is to him. He uses words like rock, fortress, shield, refuge, and tower. In David' s life these are literal --God smote his physical enemies and was his shield from physical death. Have you seen God be your rock, fortress, shield, refuge and tower in your life? I hope so-- if you can't, may I suggest you need to look a little deeper.
Where is the David that committed adultery and murder? He received God's forgiveness and moved on with his life to serve Him. It is a such a beautiful thing that after all the events of David's life, his knowledge of , understanding of, and dependence on God has grown. Out of his own praise he demonstrates that he was a man truly after God's own heart. If God can do that in David, He can do the same and more in us! What is keeping us from being after God's heart? Let's find out what it is and kick it to the curb!! (Hebrews 12:1-2)
In chapter 21, David faces the Philistines again, specifically the descendants of Goliath. Again, God is faithful and delivers David. Have you noticed that some battles seem to come back again and again in our lives? We can identify with David in this struggle. God demonstrates His faithfulness each time, proving once again, He never changes.
In chapter 22, David praises God in detail for what He has done in his life. He once said to Goliath, "The Lord will deliver you into my hand." In this chapter, he says in verse 30, "For by You I can run upon a troop; by my God I can leap over a wall." David lived a life of dependence on God alone. What a testimony! I love the pictures he paints of what God is to him. He uses words like rock, fortress, shield, refuge, and tower. In David' s life these are literal --God smote his physical enemies and was his shield from physical death. Have you seen God be your rock, fortress, shield, refuge and tower in your life? I hope so-- if you can't, may I suggest you need to look a little deeper.
Where is the David that committed adultery and murder? He received God's forgiveness and moved on with his life to serve Him. It is a such a beautiful thing that after all the events of David's life, his knowledge of , understanding of, and dependence on God has grown. Out of his own praise he demonstrates that he was a man truly after God's own heart. If God can do that in David, He can do the same and more in us! What is keeping us from being after God's heart? Let's find out what it is and kick it to the curb!! (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Today's Passage: Luke 16
In this passage we find the old adage stating that no man can serve two masters. We've all heard it before, but have you ever tried to serve two masters? You really can't do it! We have already learned that God wants us to love Him with ALL of our hearts, souls, and minds. It makes sense that Jesus would want us to understand that no one can have two masters. We can never give God everything if we're reserving even a small part of ourselves for someone or something else.
The other master Jesus is referencing is money. While I'm sure none of us would ever consider money to be his master, Jesus knew what a great temptation it would be. And the temptation to idolize money often sneaks up unrealized because it's a temptation that transcends demographics. It really doesn't matter your current age, financial situation, or culture...money is important! It is how we acquire what's important to us, how we determine our place in society, and (all too often) how we place value on ourselves. It is how we provide for our families, show generosity, and survive on this planet. Money itself is not evil, but we must be careful how we view it. Jesus understood what a sneaky temptation this would be when He warned of it. He knew that we would have to take an active, rather than passive, guard against letting any part of ourselves be more concerned with things of this world than eternal things.
The other master Jesus is referencing is money. While I'm sure none of us would ever consider money to be his master, Jesus knew what a great temptation it would be. And the temptation to idolize money often sneaks up unrealized because it's a temptation that transcends demographics. It really doesn't matter your current age, financial situation, or culture...money is important! It is how we acquire what's important to us, how we determine our place in society, and (all too often) how we place value on ourselves. It is how we provide for our families, show generosity, and survive on this planet. Money itself is not evil, but we must be careful how we view it. Jesus understood what a sneaky temptation this would be when He warned of it. He knew that we would have to take an active, rather than passive, guard against letting any part of ourselves be more concerned with things of this world than eternal things.
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