1 Samuel 24 and 1 Corinthians 5 give us a helpful comparison in our walk with God. Here is David's story, "Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's robe. 5 And afterward David's heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe." Here is the story of the church and a sinful man in 1 Corinthians 5, "It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. 2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn?"
Where David was convicted and repented concerning his sin the Corinthians were wallowing in their sin. This lack of concern for true spiritual things brought a sharp rebuke from the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul. This is where the church should come in. If an individual does not own up to and turn from his sin, like David did, it is the church's responsibility to follow up seeking repentance. If he does not repent he needs to be cast out of the church so that his flesh will be destroyed and his spirit saved. The sad truth is we would rather have people we know go to hell than confront them. To do nothing is to tell them, 'go to hell.'
Father, give us hearts that turn quickly from our sin. Make us like David. Give us a heart like David's. Let us not be like the church in Corinth. Make us a church full of Your people who love You, love holiness, and love each other. For far too long we have acted selfishly and cowardly. Change us through the blood of our Savior to be selfless and bold. May we truly love our neighbors with the tenacity by which we love ourselves. May we love Christ with the tenacity by which we love ourselves. Forgive us Father. Change us Father. Make us the Church.
For Christ
Amen
Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
The Scum of the World
1 Corinthians 4:9-13 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.
This passage is difficult if you are a pastor or ministering faithfully and seeing little results except for opposition or indifference. We can begin to see our weakness, disrepute, poverty, labor, persecution, slander, and lowliness in the world's eye as a red badge of courage. We begin to glory in our shame. I must preach to myself and you must preach to yourself that it is not our sacrifice which makes us something special. It is Christ's sacrifice that makes us something special. I have not known the weakness, disrepute, poverty, labor, persecution, slander, and lowliness that Christ knew. Christ has a PhD with years of experience in these areas. I am only a little brother who watches his big brother go off to preschool. I know very little of these things though at times I want to label myself a master. Do not trust in yourself. Do not glory in your pain. Instead, trust in Christ. Instead, glory in your Redeemer; the one whom the world knows as the refuse of all things, the scum of the world.
Father, I thank You for Your grace through which I have been given eyes to see the glory and value of Jesus Christ. What He has done for me is indescribable and the world could not contain the pages of words of thanks to do 1/2 justice to His great work. Father, I do at times feel my weakness, disrepute, poverty, labor, persecution, slander, and lowliness. May You use those moments to point me to Christ who is my strength and great wealth. Focus my mind on Christ who alone exalts and makes new. Do not let me run from my lowliness. Do not let me deny my lowliness. Rather, my great God, may You teach me great things about Christ in my lowliness. Remove the wall of pride Your church has built. Remove the wall of pride that I have helped to build. Give us humility. Give us a desire to die for the lost.
Give us Jesus
Amen
This passage is difficult if you are a pastor or ministering faithfully and seeing little results except for opposition or indifference. We can begin to see our weakness, disrepute, poverty, labor, persecution, slander, and lowliness in the world's eye as a red badge of courage. We begin to glory in our shame. I must preach to myself and you must preach to yourself that it is not our sacrifice which makes us something special. It is Christ's sacrifice that makes us something special. I have not known the weakness, disrepute, poverty, labor, persecution, slander, and lowliness that Christ knew. Christ has a PhD with years of experience in these areas. I am only a little brother who watches his big brother go off to preschool. I know very little of these things though at times I want to label myself a master. Do not trust in yourself. Do not glory in your pain. Instead, trust in Christ. Instead, glory in your Redeemer; the one whom the world knows as the refuse of all things, the scum of the world.
Father, I thank You for Your grace through which I have been given eyes to see the glory and value of Jesus Christ. What He has done for me is indescribable and the world could not contain the pages of words of thanks to do 1/2 justice to His great work. Father, I do at times feel my weakness, disrepute, poverty, labor, persecution, slander, and lowliness. May You use those moments to point me to Christ who is my strength and great wealth. Focus my mind on Christ who alone exalts and makes new. Do not let me run from my lowliness. Do not let me deny my lowliness. Rather, my great God, may You teach me great things about Christ in my lowliness. Remove the wall of pride Your church has built. Remove the wall of pride that I have helped to build. Give us humility. Give us a desire to die for the lost.
Give us Jesus
Amen
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
And you are Christ's
So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours, and you are Christ's and Christ is God's (1 Cor 3:21-23).
Our affections and our allegiances are far too small. We love so little and work so little precisely because we are focused on the little. David was afraid of Saul and it cost the priests of Nob their lives. David was afraid of Achish the king of Gath so he lied about his condition. In the church of Corinth the people were afraid of not being seen as important or spiritual so they all chose their champions. To understand this life and to live a fruitful life we must understand who we are in Christ. Because the Father is the creator and therefore owner of everything, because the Son belongs to the Father, and because we belong to Christ that means everything belongs to us. We are God's stewards called to exercise His sovereign goodness over everything. We are to be His ambassadors in every situation not trusting ourselves but trusting Him.
Father, help me today to understand and meditate on Your Word. Help me to do the hard work of memorizing Scripture that I might understand who I am in Christ. I don't want to be afraid of man, life, or death. I want to be useful to You in everything. Guide me oh thou great Jehovah, hither by Your help I come. Equip me and use me for the expansion of Your kingdom. Use me to lay the foundation of salvation in the lives of men and women. Use me to build on that foundation all the days of my life. Use me Father.
For Christ
Amen
Our affections and our allegiances are far too small. We love so little and work so little precisely because we are focused on the little. David was afraid of Saul and it cost the priests of Nob their lives. David was afraid of Achish the king of Gath so he lied about his condition. In the church of Corinth the people were afraid of not being seen as important or spiritual so they all chose their champions. To understand this life and to live a fruitful life we must understand who we are in Christ. Because the Father is the creator and therefore owner of everything, because the Son belongs to the Father, and because we belong to Christ that means everything belongs to us. We are God's stewards called to exercise His sovereign goodness over everything. We are to be His ambassadors in every situation not trusting ourselves but trusting Him.
Father, help me today to understand and meditate on Your Word. Help me to do the hard work of memorizing Scripture that I might understand who I am in Christ. I don't want to be afraid of man, life, or death. I want to be useful to You in everything. Guide me oh thou great Jehovah, hither by Your help I come. Equip me and use me for the expansion of Your kingdom. Use me to lay the foundation of salvation in the lives of men and women. Use me to build on that foundation all the days of my life. Use me Father.
For Christ
Amen
Monday, August 27, 2007
Division in the Church
Father, we join together today as Your church to pray for the removal of selfishness and pride from Your church. We confess we are more apt to follow a sinful man and his teachings than we are to follow Christ and His teachings. We choose favorites and we fight to the death. We act out of pride and we fight to the death. We even use the name of Christ as an excuse to exalt ourselves. Lord, wash us and make us clean. Expose our pride for the poison that it is. Give us hearts that are quick to turn from sin. Give us mouths that are quick to speak the truth. Give us devotion to Christ that is full of sacrificial love and humility. Do not let us exalt ourselves any longer. Send Your Spirit to humble us. Send Your Spirit to humble me. Work in us so that Your great Name and Your Church would be exalted. We must decrease and Christ must increase.
For Christ
Amen
For Christ
Amen
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Nothing can hinder the Lord
Jonathan said to his armor bearer in 1 Samuel 14:6, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few."
The Lord will work and accomplish His will though the army be large or small. But how magnificent would it be if the church became what God intended it to be? What if we realized that "we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another"? What if love became genuine in our midst? What if the church truly abhored what is evil and held fast to what is good? What if the church became what God intended?
Father, thank you this morning for renewing my vision for the church. Thank you for coupling with that renewal the reminder that the number of workers is not the issue; faithfulness to You is the issue. Raise up a vast army characterized by genuine love, hatred for evil, and devotion to good. Do not let us get lazy but be filled with zeal. May our concern no longer be that people see us and honor us. Instead, make our concern all about showing honor to others. Help us rejoice. Give us patience. Make our prayers constant. Raise up the generous. Show us how to be hospitable. My King, make us like Christ and give us strength to show Christ to others.
Come quickly Lord Jesus
Amen
The Lord will work and accomplish His will though the army be large or small. But how magnificent would it be if the church became what God intended it to be? What if we realized that "we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another"? What if love became genuine in our midst? What if the church truly abhored what is evil and held fast to what is good? What if the church became what God intended?
Father, thank you this morning for renewing my vision for the church. Thank you for coupling with that renewal the reminder that the number of workers is not the issue; faithfulness to You is the issue. Raise up a vast army characterized by genuine love, hatred for evil, and devotion to good. Do not let us get lazy but be filled with zeal. May our concern no longer be that people see us and honor us. Instead, make our concern all about showing honor to others. Help us rejoice. Give us patience. Make our prayers constant. Raise up the generous. Show us how to be hospitable. My King, make us like Christ and give us strength to show Christ to others.
Come quickly Lord Jesus
Amen
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
A call for grace
Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
In every attempt to understand or explain the work of God there must be humility. We truly see through a mirror dimly until the day when we are physically in the very presence of God. On matters that are clear and of 1st priority we must be dogmatic and gracious. Matters such as the eternal diety of the Trinity, the virgin birth/incarnation, substitutionary atonement, salvation by grace through faith, the physical resurrection of Christ, and the bodily return of Christ. I also believe we must unashamedly hold the inerrancy of Scripture in this group. On these we must not budge or compromise and on these we must not be vindictive or combative.
Too often we make enemies out of friends because they do not agree with us on the best bible translation or if the 2nd coming is before or after the tribulation. We agree on the fundamentals but because of a difference on secondary matters we want to slit throats. Where the bible is clear we must be clear. Where the bible does not speak in the plainest of terms we must not demand the drawing of terms of war.
Those of us who believe in and love salvation by grace do we truly know what grace is? Those who truly know what grace is are those who give grace.
Infinite Father, I don't know Your mind. In fact, I can't know Your mind. You are so much higher, better, smarter, stronger, and gracious than I am. I don't know Your every rationale but I know Your every move is good so I will trust. Because of Your power and goodness You have no need of my counsel and I have every need of Yours. Give me Your counsel. You owe me nothing and I owe You my life. Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee. Consecrate me by the blood of Jesus and by His righteousness. Everything is from You and everything is moving toward reconciliation in You. For this I trust You and praise You and submit to You. Do not let me break Your commands like Saul. Where I break Your commands bring conviction upon me quickly that I may way with You. Help me Father to give grace. Help me Father to know grace.
Give me Christ
Amen
In every attempt to understand or explain the work of God there must be humility. We truly see through a mirror dimly until the day when we are physically in the very presence of God. On matters that are clear and of 1st priority we must be dogmatic and gracious. Matters such as the eternal diety of the Trinity, the virgin birth/incarnation, substitutionary atonement, salvation by grace through faith, the physical resurrection of Christ, and the bodily return of Christ. I also believe we must unashamedly hold the inerrancy of Scripture in this group. On these we must not budge or compromise and on these we must not be vindictive or combative.
Too often we make enemies out of friends because they do not agree with us on the best bible translation or if the 2nd coming is before or after the tribulation. We agree on the fundamentals but because of a difference on secondary matters we want to slit throats. Where the bible is clear we must be clear. Where the bible does not speak in the plainest of terms we must not demand the drawing of terms of war.
Those of us who believe in and love salvation by grace do we truly know what grace is? Those who truly know what grace is are those who give grace.
Infinite Father, I don't know Your mind. In fact, I can't know Your mind. You are so much higher, better, smarter, stronger, and gracious than I am. I don't know Your every rationale but I know Your every move is good so I will trust. Because of Your power and goodness You have no need of my counsel and I have every need of Yours. Give me Your counsel. You owe me nothing and I owe You my life. Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee. Consecrate me by the blood of Jesus and by His righteousness. Everything is from You and everything is moving toward reconciliation in You. For this I trust You and praise You and submit to You. Do not let me break Your commands like Saul. Where I break Your commands bring conviction upon me quickly that I may way with You. Help me Father to give grace. Help me Father to know grace.
Give me Christ
Amen
Monday, August 20, 2007
An Amazing Lesson from Saul
Let me back track a bit-
1 Samuel 10:26&27, "Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched. 27 But some worthless fellows said, 'How can this man save us?' And they despised him and brought him no present. But he held his peace."
1 Samuel 11:12&13, "Then the people said to Samuel, Who is it that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death. 13 But Saul said, 'Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel.'
If worthless fellows mocked me, I saved them, and then was given the chance to exact revenge/judgment on them what would I do? Would I speak of my rights or would I speak of salvation? Saul had the opportunity to strike back and none would have thought the less of him but he held his hand.
Father, make me a man full of mercy. Make me a man who in wisdom and grace does not give what is deserved. May I be quick to hold my hand and hold my tongue. Give me Christ's grace so that I may have the wisdom to know what to do and what not to do. Father, I'm more concerned with my honor than Yours. Forgive me and straighten my priorities that they may reflect Yours.
In Christ
Amen
1 Samuel 10:26&27, "Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched. 27 But some worthless fellows said, 'How can this man save us?' And they despised him and brought him no present. But he held his peace."
1 Samuel 11:12&13, "Then the people said to Samuel, Who is it that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death. 13 But Saul said, 'Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel.'
If worthless fellows mocked me, I saved them, and then was given the chance to exact revenge/judgment on them what would I do? Would I speak of my rights or would I speak of salvation? Saul had the opportunity to strike back and none would have thought the less of him but he held his hand.
Father, make me a man full of mercy. Make me a man who in wisdom and grace does not give what is deserved. May I be quick to hold my hand and hold my tongue. Give me Christ's grace so that I may have the wisdom to know what to do and what not to do. Father, I'm more concerned with my honor than Yours. Forgive me and straighten my priorities that they may reflect Yours.
In Christ
Amen
Thursday, August 16, 2007
God works all things for good
We know that for those who love God all things work together for good. So, let's be specific. How does God work for good Israel's sinful desire for a king?
1 Samuel 8:7, "And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them."
Matthew 2:1&2 "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, 'Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.'”
John 19:19 "Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, 'Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.'”
Revelation 19:16 "On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords."
We praise You, Christ our King. You are our Ruler, our Redeemer, and our King. You are full of strength and full of mercy. Your judgments are correct and infinitely wise. Your kingdom is one that cannot be defeated. You are my King. My Christ, I worship You and bow to serve You. Show me how to be useful in Your kingdom. Show me where to be useful in Your kingdom. I have no desire to remove Your power over me. My desire is to magnify Your power of me. Help me today to do that in my family, my job, and in all my life.
For my King
Amen
1 Samuel 8:7, "And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them."
Matthew 2:1&2 "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, 'Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.'”
John 19:19 "Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, 'Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.'”
Revelation 19:16 "On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords."
We praise You, Christ our King. You are our Ruler, our Redeemer, and our King. You are full of strength and full of mercy. Your judgments are correct and infinitely wise. Your kingdom is one that cannot be defeated. You are my King. My Christ, I worship You and bow to serve You. Show me how to be useful in Your kingdom. Show me where to be useful in Your kingdom. I have no desire to remove Your power over me. My desire is to magnify Your power of me. Help me today to do that in my family, my job, and in all my life.
For my King
Amen
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
By the Word of the Lord
As I read back over the last several verses of 1 Samuel 3 I came again to a truth that is too important to not mention.
1 Samuel 3:21, "And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord."
God showed up, manifested His presence, or made Himself known to Samuel through His word. This is precisely why it is crucial for the church to read the Word, pray the Word, sing the Word, and preach the Word. God reveals Himself to us through His word. This is exactly why we must all dedicate ourselves to reading and memorizing God's word. Do you want more of God? Get more Scripture into your mind. Mediate on the word. Talk about the word when you sit down, rise up, or walk along the road. God has made Himself known to us through His Son who is the Word. The Spirit inspired inerrant Scriptures are the word through which God continues to reveal Himself to us. May we not long after 'visions' or 'new revelations' but let us hunger and thirst for God's Word.
Psalm 20 verse 7 shows us Israel's terminal illness exposed in 1 Samuel 4, "some trust in chariots, and some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." The Hebrew people trusted in the ark. They did not trust in the God whose glory hovered over the ark. Without God the ark was worthless. They couldn't see that. Without Christ Sunday worship is worthless. Can you see that? Can I see that?
Faith will be counted to us as righteousness "who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification" (Romans 4:24)
My God, reveal Yourself to me through Your word. Show me Your holiness and Your grace. Show me Your coming judgment on the unrighteous. Show me Your great love for the righteous. Show me the requirement of faith. Show me the sufficient Savior who fills all my requirements. Set my devotion and loyalty on Him. Do not let me be loyal to my strength or the strength of some army or the strength of what others might say. Make me loyal to Christ who is the seed of Abraham. Make me loyal to Christ who fulfills all Your promises. Reveal Christ to me.
In His name
Amen
1 Samuel 3:21, "And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord."
God showed up, manifested His presence, or made Himself known to Samuel through His word. This is precisely why it is crucial for the church to read the Word, pray the Word, sing the Word, and preach the Word. God reveals Himself to us through His word. This is exactly why we must all dedicate ourselves to reading and memorizing God's word. Do you want more of God? Get more Scripture into your mind. Mediate on the word. Talk about the word when you sit down, rise up, or walk along the road. God has made Himself known to us through His Son who is the Word. The Spirit inspired inerrant Scriptures are the word through which God continues to reveal Himself to us. May we not long after 'visions' or 'new revelations' but let us hunger and thirst for God's Word.
Psalm 20 verse 7 shows us Israel's terminal illness exposed in 1 Samuel 4, "some trust in chariots, and some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." The Hebrew people trusted in the ark. They did not trust in the God whose glory hovered over the ark. Without God the ark was worthless. They couldn't see that. Without Christ Sunday worship is worthless. Can you see that? Can I see that?
Faith will be counted to us as righteousness "who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification" (Romans 4:24)
My God, reveal Yourself to me through Your word. Show me Your holiness and Your grace. Show me Your coming judgment on the unrighteous. Show me Your great love for the righteous. Show me the requirement of faith. Show me the sufficient Savior who fills all my requirements. Set my devotion and loyalty on Him. Do not let me be loyal to my strength or the strength of some army or the strength of what others might say. Make me loyal to Christ who is the seed of Abraham. Make me loyal to Christ who fulfills all Your promises. Reveal Christ to me.
In His name
Amen
Monday, August 13, 2007
No Innocent Bystanders
God said to Samuel, "And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons where blaspheming God" (1 Sam 3:13).
The condition of our church has weighed heavily on my heart and I fear we are no different than the majority of other Baptist churches. We have some many on our roles who have made a profession of faith and linked arms with God's people but now have nothing to do with God's people. Generally we have a pretty good idea of why they are gone. Often there are financial problems, relationship problems, or they have found something better than the Church. We may not know the specifics but we know there is iniquity. And now we know there are no innocent bystanders in the church. We are responsible for each other whether we admit it or not. We can deny God's standards all day but that does not dissolve our responsibility or God's righteous judgment.
"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or in talk but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:16-18).
Father, help us to love each other in Your church. God give us eyes to see what You want for Your church. Give us strength and endurance to work for what You want for Your church. Do not let us turn a blind eye to the problems. Do not let us turn a deaf ear to the cries for help. When a brother or sister separates himself/herself from the brethren I pray You would give us hearts that are concerned. Father, I am concerned about the trials and strife pursuing people will bring. Some will return gladly to the church and others will go further away taking offense. Give me love, patience, gentleness, boldness, and endurance. Make me like Your Son. Make Your church a healthy body. I want us to be fruitful for You. I want us to be a church not just a once a week gathering of people. Show us the way and give us the strength to walk on it.
In Christ's name
Amen
The condition of our church has weighed heavily on my heart and I fear we are no different than the majority of other Baptist churches. We have some many on our roles who have made a profession of faith and linked arms with God's people but now have nothing to do with God's people. Generally we have a pretty good idea of why they are gone. Often there are financial problems, relationship problems, or they have found something better than the Church. We may not know the specifics but we know there is iniquity. And now we know there are no innocent bystanders in the church. We are responsible for each other whether we admit it or not. We can deny God's standards all day but that does not dissolve our responsibility or God's righteous judgment.
"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or in talk but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:16-18).
Father, help us to love each other in Your church. God give us eyes to see what You want for Your church. Give us strength and endurance to work for what You want for Your church. Do not let us turn a blind eye to the problems. Do not let us turn a deaf ear to the cries for help. When a brother or sister separates himself/herself from the brethren I pray You would give us hearts that are concerned. Father, I am concerned about the trials and strife pursuing people will bring. Some will return gladly to the church and others will go further away taking offense. Give me love, patience, gentleness, boldness, and endurance. Make me like Your Son. Make Your church a healthy body. I want us to be fruitful for You. I want us to be a church not just a once a week gathering of people. Show us the way and give us the strength to walk on it.
In Christ's name
Amen
Thursday, August 09, 2007
The Redeemer
Boaz was the redeemer. Christ is The Redeemer. It's not that He had to but that He wanted to.
Father, thank You for Christ the Redeemer. Thank you not that He died in some vague sense for the sins of the world. Rather, thank You that He died for my sins. Thank You for my Redeemer.
In my Redeemer's name
Amen
Father, thank You for Christ the Redeemer. Thank you not that He died in some vague sense for the sins of the world. Rather, thank You that He died for my sins. Thank You for my Redeemer.
In my Redeemer's name
Amen
Christ our Redeemer
Unfortunately, the story of Ruth and Boaz has been made out only as a romantic love story of faithfulness, hard work, blessing, and a happy ending. As far as this goes it is true. But it does not go far enough. Boaz is adding depth to the picture of what will one day be the Messiah. Boaz is not just a caring redeemer of his relative. Boaz is on Old Testament image of what the Christ will be. Ruth is not just a woman who loves her mother in law and picks grain. She is a woman caught in a time when she desperately needs help. She needs another to care for her and do for her what she cannot do for herself. Though she may work hard it is not enough. She needs a redeemer.
Father, as I read of Ruth and Boaz teach me about Jesus. Do not let me romantize a story that it meant to teach truth about Christ. Show me and Your church how desperately we need a redeemer. Show me how much I need Jesus to do for me what I cannot do for myself. Thank You Father for my Christ. Thank You for faithfulness, obedience, worship, love, and complete unfaltering devotion to Your will. You have given me a Redeemer. You have given me Life.
In His name
Amen
Father, as I read of Ruth and Boaz teach me about Jesus. Do not let me romantize a story that it meant to teach truth about Christ. Show me and Your church how desperately we need a redeemer. Show me how much I need Jesus to do for me what I cannot do for myself. Thank You Father for my Christ. Thank You for faithfulness, obedience, worship, love, and complete unfaltering devotion to Your will. You have given me a Redeemer. You have given me Life.
In His name
Amen
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
The Help that Comes from God
Acts 26:22 "To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
Do you ever feel like God is calling you to do something you cannot do? Have you ever heard of a ministry opportunity and thought to yourself, "I would like to be a part but I don't have what it takes"? If you have thought these things then do not despair and certainly do not turn away from ministry. Instead, turn to God for the help that only He can provide. He gives strength. He gives wisdom. He gives endurance. He opens doors. He does through us what we could never do on our own. The next time an opportunity comes about, the next time you hear of a need, don't turn to yourself. Instead, turn to God and the help that comes from Him.
Father, help me today to rely on You. Help me to rely on You for today and for tomorrow. I don't want to live a wasted life worried about what I can and cannot do. I want to live a faithful life fully relying on You. Use me God to show others that You are faithful and strong. Use me to encourage Your church to not shrink back but to exercise faith. Show me the help that only You can provide.
Because Christ died for me
Amen
Do you ever feel like God is calling you to do something you cannot do? Have you ever heard of a ministry opportunity and thought to yourself, "I would like to be a part but I don't have what it takes"? If you have thought these things then do not despair and certainly do not turn away from ministry. Instead, turn to God for the help that only He can provide. He gives strength. He gives wisdom. He gives endurance. He opens doors. He does through us what we could never do on our own. The next time an opportunity comes about, the next time you hear of a need, don't turn to yourself. Instead, turn to God and the help that comes from Him.
Father, help me today to rely on You. Help me to rely on You for today and for tomorrow. I don't want to live a wasted life worried about what I can and cannot do. I want to live a faithful life fully relying on You. Use me God to show others that You are faithful and strong. Use me to encourage Your church to not shrink back but to exercise faith. Show me the help that only You can provide.
Because Christ died for me
Amen
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Weird, Strange Even
Often the Bible leaves me with my jaw on the floor. Even passages I have read previously shock me again when I return to them. That's the case for Judges 21. They killed all the available women for Benjamin and they had vowed not to give Benjamin their daughters. This created a problem. The solution? We'll go kill the men and women of another town taking the virgins for Benjamin. When that doesn't fill the need? Go and snatch young girls while they dance in a festival. When their families get ticked we'll tell them to be gracious to us because we killed all the other available women. Don't worry either, because we know you swore an oath not to have your daughters marry into the tribe of Benjamin but you did not give them Benjamin took them. You are not guilty of anything wrong.
The fundamental principle of interpreting the book of Judges is the repeated statement, "Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." What the Bible describes is far from being prescribed. What is right in man's eyes and justified in man's mind is not necessarily right. The overarching lesson to be learned from Judges is we cannot trust our hearts. We cannot trust the collective 'wisdom' of the people. We must humbly subject ourselves to the word of God, the Scripture. We are so often guilty subjecting Scripture to ourselves when we respond, "that can't be what that says" or "I've never heard that before" meaning, that can't be right and I must be right. May we humble ourselves and submit to God.
Father, Your word is from You. It is not born of man's wisdom or the product of his thought. God I know it is Your wisdom and the product of Your thought. Since it is from You it is different from me. It is pure and I am not. It is true and I am not. Sanctify me by Your truth; Your word is truth. May I understand Scripture the way Christ did. May I honor and seek to live according to Scripture the way Christ did. In my disobedience give me forgiveness and credit to me Christ's obedience. In my foolishness give me grace and Christ's wisdom. In my pride wash me and give me Christ's humility. Show me today how Your word must shape my life. Show Christ to me today through Your word.
By His blood
Amen
The fundamental principle of interpreting the book of Judges is the repeated statement, "Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." What the Bible describes is far from being prescribed. What is right in man's eyes and justified in man's mind is not necessarily right. The overarching lesson to be learned from Judges is we cannot trust our hearts. We cannot trust the collective 'wisdom' of the people. We must humbly subject ourselves to the word of God, the Scripture. We are so often guilty subjecting Scripture to ourselves when we respond, "that can't be what that says" or "I've never heard that before" meaning, that can't be right and I must be right. May we humble ourselves and submit to God.
Father, Your word is from You. It is not born of man's wisdom or the product of his thought. God I know it is Your wisdom and the product of Your thought. Since it is from You it is different from me. It is pure and I am not. It is true and I am not. Sanctify me by Your truth; Your word is truth. May I understand Scripture the way Christ did. May I honor and seek to live according to Scripture the way Christ did. In my disobedience give me forgiveness and credit to me Christ's obedience. In my foolishness give me grace and Christ's wisdom. In my pride wash me and give me Christ's humility. Show me today how Your word must shape my life. Show Christ to me today through Your word.
By His blood
Amen
Monday, August 06, 2007
Church Discipline Old Testament Style
The gut-wrenching history of Israel continues to unfold. Brother fighting against brother. Levites leading in idol worship. Levites being anything but compassionate to their own wives. Cutting up dead bodies. War.
And it's not like people get to this position over night. You do not go to bed walking with God and wake up the next morning a homosexual of Gibeah. The process is generally the same. A person, or group of people, moves from spiritual strength to mediocrity and finally to gratuitous sin. Israel lived this and the author of Hebrews warned against this.
The large scale response by the people of Israel was costly. Their response was the right thing to do; God told them daily to do it. But once the conscience has been seared you can count on either miraculous repentance or a fight to the death. What troubles me is this is not the case just of Gibeah in the past but is indicative of the church in America today. As a whole, we have moved from strength to mediocrity to gratuitious sin. We must rise up and seek God's will. How would God have us to deal with our time?
Our Father in heaven, bring great praise to Your name. Bring Your kingdom, speed the return of Christ to this earth. I long to see Your will done with joyous perfection. I want a heart that desires joyous devotion to Your will. Satisfy me and make me content with what I need. Give me forgiveness and make me forgiving. Open my eyes and give me strength that I might see and turn away from temptation. One glaring temptation is the temptation to remain mediocre in the church. Just keep the doors open. Just keep the lights on. Let people sin and let them all come in; but nobody wants to come in. God, raise up Your church in holy devotion to Christ our king. Satisfy us with the glorious of Christ so that we will persevere in our worship and witness. Make us men of courage. Make us women of service. May we do Your work and never walk in the ways of Gibeah.
Believing in Christ
Amen
And it's not like people get to this position over night. You do not go to bed walking with God and wake up the next morning a homosexual of Gibeah. The process is generally the same. A person, or group of people, moves from spiritual strength to mediocrity and finally to gratuitous sin. Israel lived this and the author of Hebrews warned against this.
The large scale response by the people of Israel was costly. Their response was the right thing to do; God told them daily to do it. But once the conscience has been seared you can count on either miraculous repentance or a fight to the death. What troubles me is this is not the case just of Gibeah in the past but is indicative of the church in America today. As a whole, we have moved from strength to mediocrity to gratuitious sin. We must rise up and seek God's will. How would God have us to deal with our time?
Our Father in heaven, bring great praise to Your name. Bring Your kingdom, speed the return of Christ to this earth. I long to see Your will done with joyous perfection. I want a heart that desires joyous devotion to Your will. Satisfy me and make me content with what I need. Give me forgiveness and make me forgiving. Open my eyes and give me strength that I might see and turn away from temptation. One glaring temptation is the temptation to remain mediocre in the church. Just keep the doors open. Just keep the lights on. Let people sin and let them all come in; but nobody wants to come in. God, raise up Your church in holy devotion to Christ our king. Satisfy us with the glorious of Christ so that we will persevere in our worship and witness. Make us men of courage. Make us women of service. May we do Your work and never walk in the ways of Gibeah.
Believing in Christ
Amen
Saturday, August 04, 2007
The Wicked Priest and the Faithful Witness
As the story of Micah unfolds it goes from bad to worse. The sickening thing to me is the bullying that went on and the fear in response. The majority gets to make the decisions and the majority gets to make the theology. The priest saw a better opportunity (meaning a better name and better salary) so he left. Micah, without his carved image, was nothing against the larger forces so he had to cow down and go home empty handed.
As the story of the Apostle Paul unfolds it goes from bold to even more bold. The encouraging thing is the faithfulness illustrated again and again. The majority opposed Paul yet he would not let the majority make the decision or make the theology. He saw the opportunity to proclaim Christ so he took it. Paul, with his God, was a powerful witness to the work of Jesus Christ.
Father, today as I go about errands and leisure activities do not let me cow down. Open up doors for me to faithfully proclaim Jesus Christ. Give me clarity as I speak. Make my mind sharp and stir my spirit to obey. I want to be useful. I don't want to follow the crowd unless the crowd is following You. Give me boldness. Give me Your Holy Spirit.
For Christ
Amen
As the story of the Apostle Paul unfolds it goes from bold to even more bold. The encouraging thing is the faithfulness illustrated again and again. The majority opposed Paul yet he would not let the majority make the decision or make the theology. He saw the opportunity to proclaim Christ so he took it. Paul, with his God, was a powerful witness to the work of Jesus Christ.
Father, today as I go about errands and leisure activities do not let me cow down. Open up doors for me to faithfully proclaim Jesus Christ. Give me clarity as I speak. Make my mind sharp and stir my spirit to obey. I want to be useful. I don't want to follow the crowd unless the crowd is following You. Give me boldness. Give me Your Holy Spirit.
For Christ
Amen
Friday, August 03, 2007
Changes
I guess the way my wife likes to occasionaly rearrange the furniture is the way I like to occasionaly rearrange the blog. The biggest changes (which are really small) are that I changed the blog title (not address) and I added a list on the right of helpful resources on & for prayer. I want the title to better reflect what's going on here so I changed it. The list is a work in progress because my prayer life is a work in progress. I've read books on prayer but haven't found any truly stellar and worthy of the "you must read this" recommendation. I'm currently reading Graeme Goldsworthy's Prayer and the Knowledge of God and then I plan on reading John Bunyan's book on prayer.
I regularly us the IMB's resources to keep informed and pray for our missionaries. I receive email updates and would recommend you do the same. I ordered Piper's seminar on pray and found it very challenging and helpful. It would be a good use of your valuable time to listen to the seminar.
I'm interested to hear what you have found valuable. Please leave a comment if you have something you have found helpful (books, sermons, articles, blogs, advice, etc.).
I regularly us the IMB's resources to keep informed and pray for our missionaries. I receive email updates and would recommend you do the same. I ordered Piper's seminar on pray and found it very challenging and helpful. It would be a good use of your valuable time to listen to the seminar.
I'm interested to hear what you have found valuable. Please leave a comment if you have something you have found helpful (books, sermons, articles, blogs, advice, etc.).
Micah, the Levite, and Today
In a recent conversation the topic of spiritual warfare came up. I made the comment that if Satan can tempt us with something good for a time which will lead us to even greater evil that is a price he is very willing to pay. That temptation and evil seems to be working well in Judges 17. Micah gets convicted over his sin and seeks to make it right. In response and gratitude his mother makes an idol in honor of Yahweh. Micah sets up a shrine, ordains his son, and then along comes a Levite. This Levite should have taken swift action to rectify the sinful situation but instead with the offer of a paycheck, room, and board he joins them. The end result of all this obvious sin? Verse 13, Then Micah said, “Now I know that the Lord will prosper me, because I have a Levite as priest.” I've got God's man so everything's going to be all right.
How many of us, God's men and women, have sold out or 'bent the rules' to make life more palatable or profitable? We neither speak out against what is wrong nor speak up for what is right. We do nothing thinking we're not making a contribution but our contribution is huge. By going along at work, at home, and at church we are giving a vote of approval. By doing nothing we are saying that we agree.
Father, please convict me of my sin. Bring to mind now any attitude or action that might bring dishonor to Your name. I do not want to point people away from You by being harsh or by being silent. Fill me with Your grace. Fill be with the grace purchased by Jesus Christ that I might have the boldness to point people to Jesus Christ. Shut my mouth when it needs to be shut. Open my mouth when it needs to be open. Give me the wisdom and strength to know what is proper. God, I don't want to be another Micah who sold out into sin. I want to be like the Apostle Paul who stood up for the truth no matter the hurt he incurred. I believe in Jesus who is the perfect Doer and perfect Speaker. I trust in Him to fill up my doing and my speaking. Show me Your will that I might walk in it and bring glory to Your righteous name.
In Christ
Amen
How many of us, God's men and women, have sold out or 'bent the rules' to make life more palatable or profitable? We neither speak out against what is wrong nor speak up for what is right. We do nothing thinking we're not making a contribution but our contribution is huge. By going along at work, at home, and at church we are giving a vote of approval. By doing nothing we are saying that we agree.
Father, please convict me of my sin. Bring to mind now any attitude or action that might bring dishonor to Your name. I do not want to point people away from You by being harsh or by being silent. Fill me with Your grace. Fill be with the grace purchased by Jesus Christ that I might have the boldness to point people to Jesus Christ. Shut my mouth when it needs to be shut. Open my mouth when it needs to be open. Give me the wisdom and strength to know what is proper. God, I don't want to be another Micah who sold out into sin. I want to be like the Apostle Paul who stood up for the truth no matter the hurt he incurred. I believe in Jesus who is the perfect Doer and perfect Speaker. I trust in Him to fill up my doing and my speaking. Show me Your will that I might walk in it and bring glory to Your righteous name.
In Christ
Amen
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Sound familiar?
An angel of the Lord visits a woman and promises, "you will bear a son." The young man grew, the Lord blessed him, and the Spirit stirred him. The young man became a strong man doing many great things. But the strong man was captured in the night; betrayed by one he loved. He was tortured and beaten. The leaders and the people mocked him. He prayed to God for strength. He accomplished much in his life but by his death he accomplished so much more.
When we teach and speak of Samson what is our emphasis? Don't be a lover of self? Don't eat honey out of dead lions or kill people with donkey bones? Don't trust a material girl?
Remember, the Christian life is neither first nor foremost about being like someone (Apostle Paul) or not being like someone (Samson). The Christian life is first and foremost about believing in someone (Jesus Christ). It is not enough to be like Jesus or Paul and not be like Samson. It is not enough to do anything or everything required. We must first look to God's grace. We must believe in the Doer of everything required. We must hope in the Fulfiller of all righteousness. We must see the magnificence of Jesus even compared to other mighty men of Scripture. Even Moses and Abraham do not compare but were only shadows of the perfect one to come. Be careful of imitation. Be strong in trust. Repent to God and put your faith in Christ.
Father, I thank you that I am not required to be my own savior. I thank you God that my savior is not a sinful self-centered man like Samson. I praise you that my savior is not a man who is with me for some time and then leaves never to return again. Thank you God that my savior is Jesus Christ. The perfect God-man is my king. The perfect God-man is my high priest and my sacrifice. The perfect God-man is my prophet. Thank you Father for Jesus. Help me to make Him known. Give me great strength to proclaim your whole council. May I pay careful attention to myself and all the flock. May I become like Christ because of your great grace.
In His name
Amen
When we teach and speak of Samson what is our emphasis? Don't be a lover of self? Don't eat honey out of dead lions or kill people with donkey bones? Don't trust a material girl?
Remember, the Christian life is neither first nor foremost about being like someone (Apostle Paul) or not being like someone (Samson). The Christian life is first and foremost about believing in someone (Jesus Christ). It is not enough to be like Jesus or Paul and not be like Samson. It is not enough to do anything or everything required. We must first look to God's grace. We must believe in the Doer of everything required. We must hope in the Fulfiller of all righteousness. We must see the magnificence of Jesus even compared to other mighty men of Scripture. Even Moses and Abraham do not compare but were only shadows of the perfect one to come. Be careful of imitation. Be strong in trust. Repent to God and put your faith in Christ.
Father, I thank you that I am not required to be my own savior. I thank you God that my savior is not a sinful self-centered man like Samson. I praise you that my savior is not a man who is with me for some time and then leaves never to return again. Thank you God that my savior is Jesus Christ. The perfect God-man is my king. The perfect God-man is my high priest and my sacrifice. The perfect God-man is my prophet. Thank you Father for Jesus. Help me to make Him known. Give me great strength to proclaim your whole council. May I pay careful attention to myself and all the flock. May I become like Christ because of your great grace.
In His name
Amen
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