Today's Readings:
Matthew 20:17-34
Exodus 25-26
Maybe I heard it in a sermon. Perhaps I read it in a book once....
or maybe I am just making it up :-)
As I read through these verses in Exodus on the building of the tabernacle I am amazed by the detail and awesome decor that went into it's creation. The tabernacle was to provide a place where God might dwell among His people. At first glance of these verses I remember thinking "what kind of God would require such...decadence?" This was seriously what I thought, and it was hard for me to understand. It seemed like on one page you would read about Jesus saying be humble and then I would read about all this gold and silver and fine linens needed to build God's house. It seemed so weird to me.
Then I realized who God is...and it all made sense.
God is beyond anything we can comprehend. So majestic, so awesome, So holy. It only makes sense that his house would reflect in some way all He is. He is greater than all the treasure the world has ever seen and I think it is important that this place where He would dwell among His people would reflect in some way all He is.
It reminds me that God, the God who gave His life in the person of Jesus on the cross, deserves my best.
"Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:2-28)
and I give Him my best when I live like He did. The creator of the universe humbled himself and became a man. He humbled Himself even more when He died upon the cross. (Read Philippians 2:3-11 for a complete understanding of the humility of Jesus...it's my favorite verse)
If we want to lead, we must serve. If we wish to accomplish the extraordinary we must first humble ourselves. Our lives should reflect God in the way we serve one another and look out for others interests with selflessness and joy.
If we wish to reflect Him in our lives than we should look to Him in all things.
These two verses or sections of scripture show us God's holiness and His love
and it is these that we must reflect in our lives.
Tomorrow's Readings:
Exodus 27-28
Matthew 21:1-22
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Tomorrow's Readings
I will share some thoughts tomorrow......
but for your reading pleasure Read Matthew 20 and Exodus 23-26
Have a super day :-)
but for your reading pleasure Read Matthew 20 and Exodus 23-26
Have a super day :-)
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Rules don't take away freedom...they bring freedom
Today's Readings:
Exodus 20-24
Matthew 19
Today's thoughts will be short. I read through the 10 Commandments today. I will never understand why people hate them so. Well, actually, I do understand, and it makes me sad. God sets up rules and parameters for life. Why??? Because He loves us. God wants us to live freely, joyfully experiencing all He has to offer us. But there are things that stand in our way of experiencing the love and joy found only in God. So God tells us those things that we should avoid so that life might be what He wants it to be... what we it it to be.
God is our father, and like any good father He wants to make sure His children avoid those things that will bring them harm and those things that will bring them pain. But we think we know better. We don't want anyone or anything telling us what to do.That is what makes me sad. It is the reason why some hate the 10 commandments. They see it a affront to their independence. They them as a way to take away their freedom. So they resist...and they end up prisoners of their own destructive behavior.
I love sports. Baseball, football, hockey....and all sports have one thing in common.
RULES!!!
Why? Because without rules, the game would be nothing but anarchy. Each trying to play the game the way "they" want it to be played. Each player selfishly looking out for his own interests. A game played this way isn't much fun. Sadly though, this is the way life is being played and we wonder why there is so much sadness.
Many blame God, which I think is extremely humorous. God gave us freedom (because He loves us) and He has shown us how the game of life should be played and then we get mad at Him when we decide to play the game "our way" and things don't work out.
I think of the rich young ruler found in Matthew 19 (You may want to read it now.) He wanted life the way it was meant to be. He longed for it. He had two problems though. First, he thought he had always played life the right way...no fouls. Well, he was wrong but Jesus doesn't turn him away. He tells this young man what he must do
"If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
He was saying to the man "You want life the way I designed it to be then you have to make life no longer all about you." The rich young man couldn't do this...and he walked away sad.
God has given us the way to live, and it is quite simple...not easy, but simple. And we have rejected it. We have rejected His peace, His joy, His freedom, and His love....
...and then we wonder why we are trapped in such an evil world. Well, we brought it on ourselves.
Rules don't take away freedom, they give freedom.
Time to take out my rulebook I guess and learn to play the game the right way
could be fun :-)
Tomorrow's Readings:
Exodus 25-26
Matthew 20
Exodus 20-24
Matthew 19
Today's thoughts will be short. I read through the 10 Commandments today. I will never understand why people hate them so. Well, actually, I do understand, and it makes me sad. God sets up rules and parameters for life. Why??? Because He loves us. God wants us to live freely, joyfully experiencing all He has to offer us. But there are things that stand in our way of experiencing the love and joy found only in God. So God tells us those things that we should avoid so that life might be what He wants it to be... what we it it to be.
God is our father, and like any good father He wants to make sure His children avoid those things that will bring them harm and those things that will bring them pain. But we think we know better. We don't want anyone or anything telling us what to do.That is what makes me sad. It is the reason why some hate the 10 commandments. They see it a affront to their independence. They them as a way to take away their freedom. So they resist...and they end up prisoners of their own destructive behavior.
I love sports. Baseball, football, hockey....and all sports have one thing in common.
RULES!!!
Why? Because without rules, the game would be nothing but anarchy. Each trying to play the game the way "they" want it to be played. Each player selfishly looking out for his own interests. A game played this way isn't much fun. Sadly though, this is the way life is being played and we wonder why there is so much sadness.
Many blame God, which I think is extremely humorous. God gave us freedom (because He loves us) and He has shown us how the game of life should be played and then we get mad at Him when we decide to play the game "our way" and things don't work out.
I think of the rich young ruler found in Matthew 19 (You may want to read it now.) He wanted life the way it was meant to be. He longed for it. He had two problems though. First, he thought he had always played life the right way...no fouls. Well, he was wrong but Jesus doesn't turn him away. He tells this young man what he must do
"If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
He was saying to the man "You want life the way I designed it to be then you have to make life no longer all about you." The rich young man couldn't do this...and he walked away sad.
God has given us the way to live, and it is quite simple...not easy, but simple. And we have rejected it. We have rejected His peace, His joy, His freedom, and His love....
...and then we wonder why we are trapped in such an evil world. Well, we brought it on ourselves.
Rules don't take away freedom, they give freedom.
Time to take out my rulebook I guess and learn to play the game the right way
could be fun :-)
Tomorrow's Readings:
Exodus 25-26
Matthew 20
Friday, January 28, 2011
Is 491 enough?!?!?
Today's Readings:
Matthew 18:21-35
Exodus 19-20
Forgiveness is a tricky thing. It's because you don't get much out of it. To truly forgive you have to give up all of your rights. To be truly forgiving one must be completely humble. This world would be a much different place if we could simply humble ourselves, rid ourselves of all selfishness, and truly forgive.
What if we all forgave like Jesus???
I guess that's the point.
In Matthew 18 we see Jesus teaching (something he did quite often) and Peter, one of the disciples, speaks up an asks what seemed like a simple question. "“Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me?" (Matthew 18:21) The question was appropriate given the conversation going on, about what to do if another brother sins against you. So Peter asks the question "Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
Seven times was a generous number. Peter knew this. I am quite certain Peter's question was a legitimate one. I am certain Peter wished to gain some new insight from Jesus on the topic of forgiveness. But his question also has just a hint of pride. "How about 7 times Jesus? Isn't that so generous of me?" I picture Peter hoping Jesus would say something like "Well done Peter. What a fine answer that is." Meanwhile the other disciples would be standing around clapping and saying "Good answer, good answer" as if they were on a long lost episode of "The Family Feud."
It actually was a pretty good answer. After all Peter had probably heard many times from the rabbis of the time that since God forgave Israel's enemies only 3 times to forgive anyone any more than 3 times was pretty unnecessary. To do so SEVEN times.....Wow!!! Good for you Peter!!!
But then Jesus, as He has done so many times before, blows their thanking out of the water.
Seven times you say Peter?!?! Is that your final answer?!?! (in your best Regis please)
“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!"
I can imagine Peter's smile turning to a bewildered frown. The other disciples glancing at one another wondering if they heard Jesus correctly. "Did He just say what I thought He said?...SEVEN TIMES SEVEN!?!?!"
That's 490 times
Now don't get hung up on the number. The point is not "That person has done me wrong 490 times, but now it has gone too far...that's it...491 is one time too many!!!!!!
Jesus chose an amount so beyond their thinking to illustrate that our forgiveness is to be never ending.
(Don't miss the story of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18:23-35)
Jesus wants us to reflect His love and that means a selfless, humble, forgiving heart that goes beyond the ordinary. After all, like the king in the story (Matthew 18:23-35) who forgives a servant for a debt of Ten-Thousand Talents (which is an incomprehensible amount of money) we have been forgiven by God a debt we could never repay...
...and He did it by dying on a cross
Now that is the perfect picture of perfect forgiveness...perfect selflessness...perfect humility...
...and perfect love
Is 491 enough????
What do you think.
Tomorrow's Readings:
Matthew 19
Exodus 21-22
Matthew 18:21-35
Exodus 19-20
Forgiveness is a tricky thing. It's because you don't get much out of it. To truly forgive you have to give up all of your rights. To be truly forgiving one must be completely humble. This world would be a much different place if we could simply humble ourselves, rid ourselves of all selfishness, and truly forgive.
What if we all forgave like Jesus???
I guess that's the point.
In Matthew 18 we see Jesus teaching (something he did quite often) and Peter, one of the disciples, speaks up an asks what seemed like a simple question. "“Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me?" (Matthew 18:21) The question was appropriate given the conversation going on, about what to do if another brother sins against you. So Peter asks the question "Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
Seven times was a generous number. Peter knew this. I am quite certain Peter's question was a legitimate one. I am certain Peter wished to gain some new insight from Jesus on the topic of forgiveness. But his question also has just a hint of pride. "How about 7 times Jesus? Isn't that so generous of me?" I picture Peter hoping Jesus would say something like "Well done Peter. What a fine answer that is." Meanwhile the other disciples would be standing around clapping and saying "Good answer, good answer" as if they were on a long lost episode of "The Family Feud."
It actually was a pretty good answer. After all Peter had probably heard many times from the rabbis of the time that since God forgave Israel's enemies only 3 times to forgive anyone any more than 3 times was pretty unnecessary. To do so SEVEN times.....Wow!!! Good for you Peter!!!
But then Jesus, as He has done so many times before, blows their thanking out of the water.
Seven times you say Peter?!?! Is that your final answer?!?! (in your best Regis please)
“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!"
I can imagine Peter's smile turning to a bewildered frown. The other disciples glancing at one another wondering if they heard Jesus correctly. "Did He just say what I thought He said?...SEVEN TIMES SEVEN!?!?!"
That's 490 times
Now don't get hung up on the number. The point is not "That person has done me wrong 490 times, but now it has gone too far...that's it...491 is one time too many!!!!!!
Jesus chose an amount so beyond their thinking to illustrate that our forgiveness is to be never ending.
(Don't miss the story of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18:23-35)
Jesus wants us to reflect His love and that means a selfless, humble, forgiving heart that goes beyond the ordinary. After all, like the king in the story (Matthew 18:23-35) who forgives a servant for a debt of Ten-Thousand Talents (which is an incomprehensible amount of money) we have been forgiven by God a debt we could never repay...
...and He did it by dying on a cross
Now that is the perfect picture of perfect forgiveness...perfect selflessness...perfect humility...
...and perfect love
Is 491 enough????
What do you think.
Tomorrow's Readings:
Matthew 19
Exodus 21-22
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Who do you say I am??
Today's Readings:
Genesis 12-15
Matthew 16-17
Have I mentioned yet how much I love what I am doing this year??? Each day brings new insight, new truth (well, not new...it's really old truth, eternal in fact...what I mean is something new to think about that is true.) Forget McDonald's cause I am loving this!!
Matthew 16 is chalked full of things that make you go "hhhmmmmm." So much to think about. “Watch out!” Jesus warned them. “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:6) That's a weird statement. Were the Pharisees and and Sadducees making bad bread at the time and trying to sell the ingredients to unsuspecting chefs??? (Why I am suddenly thinking about the movie I saw about Woodstock??) No, this is simply a warning that just like how yeast can start so small and grow in to something large we are to watch out for false teaching. Even the tiniest lie can turn ultimately destructive. Truth need not be tainted so we are to be careful about the thoughts we allow to enter our hearts and minds.
We also find the disciples arguing as well in this chapter (a common occurrence I am afraid) and Jesus calls them out once again for their lack of faith. "Don’t you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up?" (Matthew 16:9) Apparently they didn't.
In Matthew 16:18 We see Jesus changing Simon's name to Peter (which means rock). God does this quite often. He changes people's names throughout scripture. It is most often seen when God wishes to change a person's identity to something new. Simon is no longer who he was when Jesus met him and by now calling him Peter he is identifying him with the new person he has become (or is becoming.)
In Matthew 16:23 We see Peter (yep, same guy) disagreeing with Jesus when Jesus says He would be killed. "This will never happen to you" Peter says...
and how does Jesus respond you ask????
"Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” (Matthew 16:23)
Viewing life from a human point of view, not from God's. I just did a 5 week series on seeing the world through God's eyes. "If we could see the world as God does we would do what He says." was the main point of the series and Romans 12:1-2 played a big roll (go ahead and read it :-) I love the idea of viewing life from God's perspective.
Which brings me to my point. "What Erin?!?! You haven't even begun to make your point yet?!?!?!" I just didn't want you to miss out on all the great stuff found in Matthew 16. But Matthew 16:15 may be the single most important question asked in all of scripture. Actually check that. It is the single most important question in life
“But who do you say I am?” is the question Jesus poses to His disciples.
How we answer this single question will determine everything about us. It will determine how we live this life...and it will also determine how we spend eternity.
"Who do you say Jesus is?"
This question is the tipping point of human life. It is the fulcrum upon which everything sits. It is the center piece of life itself. Jesus is either who He claimed to be...or He was a mad-man, not worthy of any praise at all. There is not middle ground. He was either a fool, a liar, a crazy person...or He is the creator of everything. God himself in human form. There are no other choices to be had and how we answer, how we view Jesus determines everything about us. It determines our choices. It determines our words. It effects our thoughts. There is nothing in life that is left unaffected by the answer we give to this simple question.
It is is big deal.
So join me. Read with me about this man we call Jesus and discover for yourself. I know who I say Jesus is. He is my savior, my lord. He is God, the one who made me and died for me on a cross. He holds my life in his hands. Jesus is everything to me and I long to know Him more and more reflect his love and holiness to a world that does not know Him and often does not care.
I know who I say Jesus is...but what about you??
"Who do you say Jesus is?"
how you answer will effect everything.
(P.S. Don't miss Exodus 14. Red Sea parting and all. Then study the Red Sea a bit. Might change how you view this story :-)
Tomorrow's Readings:
Genesis 18-19
Matthew 18:1-20
Genesis 12-15
Matthew 16-17
Have I mentioned yet how much I love what I am doing this year??? Each day brings new insight, new truth (well, not new...it's really old truth, eternal in fact...what I mean is something new to think about that is true.) Forget McDonald's cause I am loving this!!
Matthew 16 is chalked full of things that make you go "hhhmmmmm." So much to think about. “Watch out!” Jesus warned them. “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:6) That's a weird statement. Were the Pharisees and and Sadducees making bad bread at the time and trying to sell the ingredients to unsuspecting chefs??? (Why I am suddenly thinking about the movie I saw about Woodstock??) No, this is simply a warning that just like how yeast can start so small and grow in to something large we are to watch out for false teaching. Even the tiniest lie can turn ultimately destructive. Truth need not be tainted so we are to be careful about the thoughts we allow to enter our hearts and minds.
We also find the disciples arguing as well in this chapter (a common occurrence I am afraid) and Jesus calls them out once again for their lack of faith. "Don’t you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up?" (Matthew 16:9) Apparently they didn't.
In Matthew 16:18 We see Jesus changing Simon's name to Peter (which means rock). God does this quite often. He changes people's names throughout scripture. It is most often seen when God wishes to change a person's identity to something new. Simon is no longer who he was when Jesus met him and by now calling him Peter he is identifying him with the new person he has become (or is becoming.)
In Matthew 16:23 We see Peter (yep, same guy) disagreeing with Jesus when Jesus says He would be killed. "This will never happen to you" Peter says...
and how does Jesus respond you ask????
"Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” (Matthew 16:23)
Viewing life from a human point of view, not from God's. I just did a 5 week series on seeing the world through God's eyes. "If we could see the world as God does we would do what He says." was the main point of the series and Romans 12:1-2 played a big roll (go ahead and read it :-) I love the idea of viewing life from God's perspective.
Which brings me to my point. "What Erin?!?! You haven't even begun to make your point yet?!?!?!" I just didn't want you to miss out on all the great stuff found in Matthew 16. But Matthew 16:15 may be the single most important question asked in all of scripture. Actually check that. It is the single most important question in life
“But who do you say I am?” is the question Jesus poses to His disciples.
How we answer this single question will determine everything about us. It will determine how we live this life...and it will also determine how we spend eternity.
"Who do you say Jesus is?"
This question is the tipping point of human life. It is the fulcrum upon which everything sits. It is the center piece of life itself. Jesus is either who He claimed to be...or He was a mad-man, not worthy of any praise at all. There is not middle ground. He was either a fool, a liar, a crazy person...or He is the creator of everything. God himself in human form. There are no other choices to be had and how we answer, how we view Jesus determines everything about us. It determines our choices. It determines our words. It effects our thoughts. There is nothing in life that is left unaffected by the answer we give to this simple question.
It is is big deal.
So join me. Read with me about this man we call Jesus and discover for yourself. I know who I say Jesus is. He is my savior, my lord. He is God, the one who made me and died for me on a cross. He holds my life in his hands. Jesus is everything to me and I long to know Him more and more reflect his love and holiness to a world that does not know Him and often does not care.
I know who I say Jesus is...but what about you??
"Who do you say Jesus is?"
how you answer will effect everything.
(P.S. Don't miss Exodus 14. Red Sea parting and all. Then study the Red Sea a bit. Might change how you view this story :-)
Tomorrow's Readings:
Genesis 18-19
Matthew 18:1-20
Monday, January 24, 2011
Thoughts from a Saturday in the Mountains
Now that I am back from camp, let me share my thoughts from my Saturday solo time...
"Today I read Matthew 14 and wondered "How many times do I make God small?...How many times a day do I doubt God's power and love for me and when I do how does my ability to reflect God's love suffer?"
Jesus fed 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. How does my lack of faith not allow God to work through me in such a way?
Excuse me for a moment as I hearken back to a scene from my favorite movie "The Empire Strikes Back." Luke's X-Wing was stuck in the mud (it was a big space ship). Luke tried to to lift it out...he couldn't...he thought it was impossible...
...Then Yoda lifted it from the swamp and placed upon dry land. Luke said "I can't believe it" to which Yoda responded "That is why you failed."
How often to have the faith of Luke??
In Matthew 14 the disciples of Jesus were on a boat during the evening and they saw someone walking on the water...and they freaked out. They thought it was a ghost. I would have freaked also. I often think we picture Jesus walking upon a glassy sea, one that is calm and serene. This was not the case.
Jesus told them to be calm, to not be afraid. In a sense he was saying "have faith." Peter called “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
Jesus said "come."
...and Peter stepped out onto the water, "But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted." (Matthew 14:30)
Jesus grabbed Peter and said “You have so little faith,”...“Why did you doubt me?”
How often do I doubt and think "It's too big."
I want to reflect God's power, His love, His holiness. I want to reflect it to a world that all too often seeks to make Him small.
"I wanna burn bright like a star in the night
fall, fall and surrender it all
sing a while and believe like a child...
...I just wanna be your reflection."
and it takes faith
Tomorrow's Readings:
Genesis 12-13
Matthew 16
"Today I read Matthew 14 and wondered "How many times do I make God small?...How many times a day do I doubt God's power and love for me and when I do how does my ability to reflect God's love suffer?"
Jesus fed 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. How does my lack of faith not allow God to work through me in such a way?
Excuse me for a moment as I hearken back to a scene from my favorite movie "The Empire Strikes Back." Luke's X-Wing was stuck in the mud (it was a big space ship). Luke tried to to lift it out...he couldn't...he thought it was impossible...
...Then Yoda lifted it from the swamp and placed upon dry land. Luke said "I can't believe it" to which Yoda responded "That is why you failed."
How often to have the faith of Luke??
In Matthew 14 the disciples of Jesus were on a boat during the evening and they saw someone walking on the water...and they freaked out. They thought it was a ghost. I would have freaked also. I often think we picture Jesus walking upon a glassy sea, one that is calm and serene. This was not the case.
Jesus told them to be calm, to not be afraid. In a sense he was saying "have faith." Peter called “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
Jesus said "come."
...and Peter stepped out onto the water, "But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted." (Matthew 14:30)
Jesus grabbed Peter and said “You have so little faith,”...“Why did you doubt me?”
How often do I doubt and think "It's too big."
I want to reflect God's power, His love, His holiness. I want to reflect it to a world that all too often seeks to make Him small.
"I wanna burn bright like a star in the night
fall, fall and surrender it all
sing a while and believe like a child...
...I just wanna be your reflection."
and it takes faith
Tomorrow's Readings:
Genesis 12-13
Matthew 16
Thursday, January 20, 2011
The prize goes to the one who seek earnestly...
Today's Readings:
Matthew 13:31-58
Genesis 49-50
"I trust that your mind is open and your heart available because we have some marvelous, marvelous things that God will show us..."
These are words, slightly summarized, of a speaker I enjoy listening to. It really is true when it comes to the things of God. There is something special that happens when someone earnestly seeks God. When a person seeks God with all their heart, mind, and soul regardless of where it takes them. A person who seeks not selfishly looking for what they can get but for what God can (and will) give.
Joseph seemed to realize that if he would simply seek God in all things eventually God would lead him some place amazing.
Matthew 13:31-58 contains so much....
Likening the kingdom of God to a mustard seed and leaven. Two things that can start out so small but become something amazing. I think faith is like this. It can start out so small, so tiny, but if it is pure, if it is true....
...the final result can be huge.
But I love Matthew 13:44-46 "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. Parable of the Pearl “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!"
The concept that faith and a life lived fully for God is beyond price...the idea that it is worth giving up everything to obtain...
18 years ago I found that treasure, I discovered that pearl...
I pray that you find it as well :-)
Weekend Readings:
Matthew 14 & 15:1-20
Exodus: 1-8
Matthew 13:31-58
Genesis 49-50
"I trust that your mind is open and your heart available because we have some marvelous, marvelous things that God will show us..."
These are words, slightly summarized, of a speaker I enjoy listening to. It really is true when it comes to the things of God. There is something special that happens when someone earnestly seeks God. When a person seeks God with all their heart, mind, and soul regardless of where it takes them. A person who seeks not selfishly looking for what they can get but for what God can (and will) give.
Joseph seemed to realize that if he would simply seek God in all things eventually God would lead him some place amazing.
Matthew 13:31-58 contains so much....
Likening the kingdom of God to a mustard seed and leaven. Two things that can start out so small but become something amazing. I think faith is like this. It can start out so small, so tiny, but if it is pure, if it is true....
...the final result can be huge.
But I love Matthew 13:44-46 "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. Parable of the Pearl “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!"
The concept that faith and a life lived fully for God is beyond price...the idea that it is worth giving up everything to obtain...
18 years ago I found that treasure, I discovered that pearl...
I pray that you find it as well :-)
Weekend Readings:
Matthew 14 & 15:1-20
Exodus: 1-8
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
How deep are your roots??
Today's Readings:
Matthew 12:24 - 13:30
Genesis 43-48
"How deep is your love" was a great song by the Bee Gees...but that's not what I am here to talk about :-)
Throughout the Bible the human life is likened to that of a tree. There are just so many...Psalm 1 "They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
Jeremiah 17:8 "He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
There are many more. Trust me on this one...or don't...go ahead, look them up for yourself. The imagery of a tree is used so often and for good reason. We all know trees. We have all seen beautiful, green, lush trees and we all have seen dried up and withered ones as well. The picture is something we all share. The person (or "tree) that remains in God, that seeks God, that ponders His word and meditates on it day and night, the one who saturates his mind and heart with the truth of God's word is like a tree that never lacks and flourishes in all seasons. It's the message we see over and over again.
It is why I love the words found in Matthew 12:33-37....
“A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad....For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”
You would think words like this would make me shudder but we all know how I like direction and clear expectations. I like this stuff.
So what kind of tree are you??
We will be identified and remembered by our deeds, that much is clear here. But our deeds are ultimately an expression of what lies within. If a tree is to produce good fruit it has be good on the inside. It has to get good stuff in to it if it is going to have good stuff come out of it.
When I was in middle school I did a science fair project (I didn't really want to :-) My project..."The effects of salt water on pea plants." I'll tell you what the effects are...the plants died. The water I put into them ultimately caused their destruction. The inside of the plant was bad so.....
This verse is a call to be mindful of what we put into our hearts and minds and to understand that we are not be careless about our living...the effects of not "considering our ways" will be devastating.
...and then in Matthew 13 Jesus tells a story about a man planting seeds...read these verses because they talk about under what conditions a life for Jesus can flourish and under what conditions a life will end up, well, like my salt water pea plants.
"Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness." it says in Colossians 2:7-8. It is a call to build our lives upon the very bedrock of Jesus, upon the very living water of God's word. To allow our roots to grow deep so that our hearts and minds might be so saturated with God's truth that we will be like a good tree, like a tree planted along the riverbank.
I work with some great middle school students and last night at our Tuesday night group we had 55 kids attend. What excites me most about this number?? It is that I am being allowed to help all of them grow deep roots. It is my joy and pleasure to be used by God in this way and I can only hope that God is accomplishing this through me. That they would begin to plant themselves upon the life giving words of Jesus and that in doing so they can stand firm during what is a very difficult time in life. So much seeks to destroy them...to choke off the life giving truth and replace it with destructive "salt water." I want them to know the joy, peace, patience, and love that can only come from Jesus.
Oh how I pray that there roots will grow down into Him...so that they would be like the tree in Psalm 1...planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season. never withering,
and prospering in all they do
I want to be like that tree too...with deep roots...remaining green, not anxious, and bearing fruit
But how deep are our roots???
Why not start reading with me this year and we will see just how deep we can go :-)
Tomorrow's Reading:
Genesis 49-50
Matthew 13:31-58
See ya tomorrow :-)
Matthew 12:24 - 13:30
Genesis 43-48
"How deep is your love" was a great song by the Bee Gees...but that's not what I am here to talk about :-)
Throughout the Bible the human life is likened to that of a tree. There are just so many...Psalm 1 "They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
Jeremiah 17:8 "He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
There are many more. Trust me on this one...or don't...go ahead, look them up for yourself. The imagery of a tree is used so often and for good reason. We all know trees. We have all seen beautiful, green, lush trees and we all have seen dried up and withered ones as well. The picture is something we all share. The person (or "tree) that remains in God, that seeks God, that ponders His word and meditates on it day and night, the one who saturates his mind and heart with the truth of God's word is like a tree that never lacks and flourishes in all seasons. It's the message we see over and over again.
It is why I love the words found in Matthew 12:33-37....
“A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad....For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”
You would think words like this would make me shudder but we all know how I like direction and clear expectations. I like this stuff.
So what kind of tree are you??
We will be identified and remembered by our deeds, that much is clear here. But our deeds are ultimately an expression of what lies within. If a tree is to produce good fruit it has be good on the inside. It has to get good stuff in to it if it is going to have good stuff come out of it.
When I was in middle school I did a science fair project (I didn't really want to :-) My project..."The effects of salt water on pea plants." I'll tell you what the effects are...the plants died. The water I put into them ultimately caused their destruction. The inside of the plant was bad so.....
This verse is a call to be mindful of what we put into our hearts and minds and to understand that we are not be careless about our living...the effects of not "considering our ways" will be devastating.
...and then in Matthew 13 Jesus tells a story about a man planting seeds...read these verses because they talk about under what conditions a life for Jesus can flourish and under what conditions a life will end up, well, like my salt water pea plants.
"Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness." it says in Colossians 2:7-8. It is a call to build our lives upon the very bedrock of Jesus, upon the very living water of God's word. To allow our roots to grow deep so that our hearts and minds might be so saturated with God's truth that we will be like a good tree, like a tree planted along the riverbank.
I work with some great middle school students and last night at our Tuesday night group we had 55 kids attend. What excites me most about this number?? It is that I am being allowed to help all of them grow deep roots. It is my joy and pleasure to be used by God in this way and I can only hope that God is accomplishing this through me. That they would begin to plant themselves upon the life giving words of Jesus and that in doing so they can stand firm during what is a very difficult time in life. So much seeks to destroy them...to choke off the life giving truth and replace it with destructive "salt water." I want them to know the joy, peace, patience, and love that can only come from Jesus.
Oh how I pray that there roots will grow down into Him...so that they would be like the tree in Psalm 1...planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season. never withering,
and prospering in all they do
I want to be like that tree too...with deep roots...remaining green, not anxious, and bearing fruit
But how deep are our roots???
Why not start reading with me this year and we will see just how deep we can go :-)
Tomorrow's Reading:
Genesis 49-50
Matthew 13:31-58
See ya tomorrow :-)
Monday, January 17, 2011
It is beyond my power...
Today's Readings:
Genesis 41-42
Matthew 12:1-23
"Pharaoh sent for Joseph at once, and he was quickly brought from the prison. After he shaved and changed his clothes, he went in and stood before Pharaoh. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it.”
“It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied. “But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.”
Genesis 41:14-16
Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob had been thrown into a pit by his own brothers, sold into slavery, falsely imprisoned and here he stands before Pharaoh, the most powerful man in all the land with a chance to solve a big problem for Pharaoh...and perhaps himself. He knew he could solve the problem. He knew he had that power, a power if used could get him out of jail and possibly get Joseph his life back...and what does he say?
"It is beyond my power."
WHAT?!?! C'mon Joseph, you have suffered long enough. Take the credit. Allow Pharaoh to give you some props. You deserve this. But that's not Joseph..."I can't, but God can." After so many years of trouble, trouble he didn't cause. Hardship that would cause most men to curse God, Joseph chooses instead to give God the glory.
He must have known that God had been up to something in his life (but more on this later)
Joseph gives God the glory...and in turn Joseph is honored and respected by Pharaoh. So much so that Pharaoh makes Joseph the most powerful man in the country. (Genesis 41:38-40)
"Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.”
When we honor God, people see it, they respect it...and it makes God look good. He gets the glory when we are faithful.
"let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:16)
"Make it your goal to live a quiet life...then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live..." (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12)
"Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors...they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God" (1 Peter 2:12)
There is something marvelous about the quiet, humble, faithful and consistent life that seeks to daily glorify God that gets people's attention. It is a life that leads others to glorify Him as well.
I think we all could be just a little bit more like Joseph...
"It is beyond my power...but God can."
Tomorrow's Reading:
Genesis 43-45
Matthew 12:24-50
Genesis 41-42
Matthew 12:1-23
"Pharaoh sent for Joseph at once, and he was quickly brought from the prison. After he shaved and changed his clothes, he went in and stood before Pharaoh. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it.”
“It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied. “But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.”
Genesis 41:14-16
Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob had been thrown into a pit by his own brothers, sold into slavery, falsely imprisoned and here he stands before Pharaoh, the most powerful man in all the land with a chance to solve a big problem for Pharaoh...and perhaps himself. He knew he could solve the problem. He knew he had that power, a power if used could get him out of jail and possibly get Joseph his life back...and what does he say?
"It is beyond my power."
WHAT?!?! C'mon Joseph, you have suffered long enough. Take the credit. Allow Pharaoh to give you some props. You deserve this. But that's not Joseph..."I can't, but God can." After so many years of trouble, trouble he didn't cause. Hardship that would cause most men to curse God, Joseph chooses instead to give God the glory.
He must have known that God had been up to something in his life (but more on this later)
Joseph gives God the glory...and in turn Joseph is honored and respected by Pharaoh. So much so that Pharaoh makes Joseph the most powerful man in the country. (Genesis 41:38-40)
"Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.”
When we honor God, people see it, they respect it...and it makes God look good. He gets the glory when we are faithful.
"let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:16)
"Make it your goal to live a quiet life...then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live..." (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12)
"Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors...they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God" (1 Peter 2:12)
There is something marvelous about the quiet, humble, faithful and consistent life that seeks to daily glorify God that gets people's attention. It is a life that leads others to glorify Him as well.
I think we all could be just a little bit more like Joseph...
"It is beyond my power...but God can."
Tomorrow's Reading:
Genesis 43-45
Matthew 12:24-50
Sunday, January 16, 2011
With a little light, it's easy to see where you're going
Today's Readings:
Genesis 39-40
Matthew 11
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
I once had a conversation with another christian about what life is like before Jesus and after. She said "The christian life is so hard. It was so much easier when I didn't know any better."
I couldn't disagree more
I find it interesting that here in Matthew 11, Jesus utters the words "the blind see...and the deaf hear." Have you ever wandered? I mean just gone out and without a plan just wandered? Just gone off and not worried about where you end up? No direction, no purpose, no place to be. I suppose it can be fun for a while but eventually you will have to ask yourself "Where am I and where am I going?" Otherwise, your just lost.
I prefer direction
I think we all do if we are honest with ourselves. We all, ultimately, want to know where we are going. It is why I love the words of Matthew 11:30 "For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” A life lived for Jesus doesn't lack hardship. It causes us to face many challenges and trials. It certainly doesn't lack trouble...
...but it also doesn't lack direction.
Direction that is clear and precise. There is a peace that exists when you realize that no matter where you are, no matter what kind of trouble or challenge you come up against, you are still going somewhere amazing. No worry...just follow. No anxiety of what to do next...just follow. No asking yourself "Is this the right thing to do?" because the creator of everything has made the path so very clear. It's not as difficult as we make it out to be much of the time. We cloud life, not God. We confuse direction, not Jesus.
I imagine the thought found in Matthew 11:30 is what allowed Joseph (Genesis 37-50) to live the life he lived. To stay focused in times of such despair. He knew God was taking him somewhere. In Genesis 39 we read an account of Joseph's life when he was faced with a "difficult" choice.
"Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man,7and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded. But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.” (Genesis 39:6-9)
I am quite certain he knew his choice was going to bring him trouble...and it did. He ended up in prison. I think he knew this might happen. But he made the choice.
Why?
Because he had direction. Even in prison it says Joseph followed.
Psalm 119:105 says "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."
You want to know what is hard...walking in the dark. Trying to find your way when there is no light. That's difficult.
But with a little light to show the way...it's really not that hard at all.
It's actually pretty easy...and I think that's the point.
Tomorrow's Reading:
Genesis 41-42
Matthew 12:1-23
Genesis 39-40
Matthew 11
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
I once had a conversation with another christian about what life is like before Jesus and after. She said "The christian life is so hard. It was so much easier when I didn't know any better."
I couldn't disagree more
I find it interesting that here in Matthew 11, Jesus utters the words "the blind see...and the deaf hear." Have you ever wandered? I mean just gone out and without a plan just wandered? Just gone off and not worried about where you end up? No direction, no purpose, no place to be. I suppose it can be fun for a while but eventually you will have to ask yourself "Where am I and where am I going?" Otherwise, your just lost.
I prefer direction
I think we all do if we are honest with ourselves. We all, ultimately, want to know where we are going. It is why I love the words of Matthew 11:30 "For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” A life lived for Jesus doesn't lack hardship. It causes us to face many challenges and trials. It certainly doesn't lack trouble...
...but it also doesn't lack direction.
Direction that is clear and precise. There is a peace that exists when you realize that no matter where you are, no matter what kind of trouble or challenge you come up against, you are still going somewhere amazing. No worry...just follow. No anxiety of what to do next...just follow. No asking yourself "Is this the right thing to do?" because the creator of everything has made the path so very clear. It's not as difficult as we make it out to be much of the time. We cloud life, not God. We confuse direction, not Jesus.
I imagine the thought found in Matthew 11:30 is what allowed Joseph (Genesis 37-50) to live the life he lived. To stay focused in times of such despair. He knew God was taking him somewhere. In Genesis 39 we read an account of Joseph's life when he was faced with a "difficult" choice.
"Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man,7and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded. But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.” (Genesis 39:6-9)
I am quite certain he knew his choice was going to bring him trouble...and it did. He ended up in prison. I think he knew this might happen. But he made the choice.
Why?
Because he had direction. Even in prison it says Joseph followed.
Psalm 119:105 says "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."
You want to know what is hard...walking in the dark. Trying to find your way when there is no light. That's difficult.
But with a little light to show the way...it's really not that hard at all.
It's actually pretty easy...and I think that's the point.
Tomorrow's Reading:
Genesis 41-42
Matthew 12:1-23
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Are you ready to follow??
Today's Readings:
Genesis 36-38
Matthew 10:21-42
I can't stress enough the importance of what Jesus says in Matthew 10:21-42 but the verse I think hits it home are verses 24-25 “Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master. Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master."
It is no secret that I love Star Wars and my favorite of the films is by far "Empire Strikes Back." I can remember the frustration of Yoda as he tried to teach Luke...and Luke just wouldn't listen. He thought he knew better. Time and time again Yoda, wise old Yoda would say one thing and Luke would do the opposite...and it never worked out for Luke.
You think he would have learned.
Here in Matthew 10 Jesus really breaks it down so well. These verse are filled with purpose...both of the follower of Jesus and of Jesus himself. It both encourages and warns. Truly, if you are interested in following Jesus YOU MUST READ these verses.
Talk about purpose and focus, check out verses 37-39 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it."
This is not a call to not love our family. On the contrary, It is a call to put the one first in life who can enable us to truly love our families. To put the one first who is life itself.
Like I said, don't miss these words.
and tune in tomorrow because I will talk about Genesis and the life of an amazing guy named Joseph. So read Genesis 37-41 (and further in the days to come)
Have a great day :-)
Tomorrow's Reading:
Matthew 11 and Genesis 40-41
Genesis 36-38
Matthew 10:21-42
I can't stress enough the importance of what Jesus says in Matthew 10:21-42 but the verse I think hits it home are verses 24-25 “Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master. Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master."
It is no secret that I love Star Wars and my favorite of the films is by far "Empire Strikes Back." I can remember the frustration of Yoda as he tried to teach Luke...and Luke just wouldn't listen. He thought he knew better. Time and time again Yoda, wise old Yoda would say one thing and Luke would do the opposite...and it never worked out for Luke.
You think he would have learned.
Here in Matthew 10 Jesus really breaks it down so well. These verse are filled with purpose...both of the follower of Jesus and of Jesus himself. It both encourages and warns. Truly, if you are interested in following Jesus YOU MUST READ these verses.
Talk about purpose and focus, check out verses 37-39 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it."
This is not a call to not love our family. On the contrary, It is a call to put the one first in life who can enable us to truly love our families. To put the one first who is life itself.
Like I said, don't miss these words.
and tune in tomorrow because I will talk about Genesis and the life of an amazing guy named Joseph. So read Genesis 37-41 (and further in the days to come)
Have a great day :-)
Tomorrow's Reading:
Matthew 11 and Genesis 40-41
Friday, January 14, 2011
Day 14...The Adventure Continues
Today's Readings:
Genesis 33-35
Matthew 10:1-20
Verses that caught my eye:
Genesis 34
Matthew 10:16 and 10:20
A couple quick thoughts on today's reading. As I read the old Testament, I have to often step back and remind myself "This is history here." There are parts of the Old Testament that are are hard to understand and difficult to read. But it is good to know, as I read, that God can use horrible choices made by deeply flawed people and cause something good to come out of it. As I read Old Testament sections I have to realize I am reading a historical document and at times people do really evil things. Just because these things are in there doesn't mean God condones or is happy about them happening.
As you read through these sections, it is important to see how God works in and through the lives of these people, even when they do things God would never want them to do.
In Matthew 10 I am reminded about how I must live as a follower of Jesus. In Matthew 10:16 Jesus says "“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves." It should be no secret that those who follow Jesus will have their enemies. There is one who will stop at nothing to keep the name of Jesus from spreading. He already knows he is defeated but he works to take as many with him as possible.
We are sheep among wolves in this world...not a promising way to look at things...
...unless we are smart and Godly, unless we are wise and ready for the attack. If we know the wolf is there, we can prepare. We should know our enemy and know his ways so we can combat them in a manner that brings glory to God. I think that is the word given here in this verse.
It couples up nicely with the words of verse 20 I think
"For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." These are words that bring me peace in my role as middle school pastor. When I am aware, when I listen to God and walk after Him, He will give me words to speak. Words that will bring people a more complete knowledge of Him.
So, let us all read on...the adventure continues.
Tomorrow's Reading:
Genesis 36-38
Matthew 10:21-42 (and it's good :-)
Genesis 33-35
Matthew 10:1-20
Verses that caught my eye:
Genesis 34
Matthew 10:16 and 10:20
A couple quick thoughts on today's reading. As I read the old Testament, I have to often step back and remind myself "This is history here." There are parts of the Old Testament that are are hard to understand and difficult to read. But it is good to know, as I read, that God can use horrible choices made by deeply flawed people and cause something good to come out of it. As I read Old Testament sections I have to realize I am reading a historical document and at times people do really evil things. Just because these things are in there doesn't mean God condones or is happy about them happening.
As you read through these sections, it is important to see how God works in and through the lives of these people, even when they do things God would never want them to do.
In Matthew 10 I am reminded about how I must live as a follower of Jesus. In Matthew 10:16 Jesus says "“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves." It should be no secret that those who follow Jesus will have their enemies. There is one who will stop at nothing to keep the name of Jesus from spreading. He already knows he is defeated but he works to take as many with him as possible.
We are sheep among wolves in this world...not a promising way to look at things...
...unless we are smart and Godly, unless we are wise and ready for the attack. If we know the wolf is there, we can prepare. We should know our enemy and know his ways so we can combat them in a manner that brings glory to God. I think that is the word given here in this verse.
It couples up nicely with the words of verse 20 I think
"For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." These are words that bring me peace in my role as middle school pastor. When I am aware, when I listen to God and walk after Him, He will give me words to speak. Words that will bring people a more complete knowledge of Him.
So, let us all read on...the adventure continues.
Tomorrow's Reading:
Genesis 36-38
Matthew 10:21-42 (and it's good :-)
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Tune in Tomorrow....
Hey Friends. Busy day today so although I did the reading...not enough time to post.
So come back tomorrow for Matthew 10 and Genesis 32-34...
So come back tomorrow for Matthew 10 and Genesis 32-34...
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
He is unlike any other
Today's Reading: Matthew 9:1-17 & Genesis 29-30
Key Verses: Matthew 9:2 & Matthew 9:9
What I love most about reading the accounts of Jesus is that fact that He is unlike anyone else. He doesn't act like anyone ever before and anyone since. He is original. Everything he did was so perfect, so right, and freaked just about everyone out. He was so different (and He still is.)
We look at Jesus from here in the future. We know who He is...I am not so certain even those closest to Him really understood who He was (that is until he rose from the dead...talk about different...but we will have more on that later.)
In Matthew 9:2 we see "Some people (bring) to (Jesus) a paralyzed man on a mat." Not an uncommon thing to happen. Jesus was healing many and the news had got around. But check out what Jesus says to the man and his friends.
Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.” (Matt. 9:2)
Excuse me?!?! Did that just happen?!?! Did he actually just say "Your sins are forgiven"?!?!
I am pretty sure only God himself can do that...in fact some teachers of religious law said as much. The scribes believed Jesus was dishonoring God by taking upon himself the prerogative to forgive sins, which only God can do.
"But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?” (Matt. 9:3)
(pause for effect :-)
Yes, He did!!!! (and that's because He is)
And then Jesus, just being Jesus says in so many words "You don't believe me do you? I know what your thinking, this guy says sins are forgiven, but come on...it's easy to say that. He has no proof"
Check out Matthew 9:5 “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
and that is just what the man did. He jumped up and went home. That is so awesome!!!!
That had all the people talking for sure, but then Jesus did something else so very.....well, different. Later he walks up to this guy named Matthew and says "Follow Me and be My disciple." So what's the big deal you ask? Well, Matthew was a tax collector and they were the lowest of the low. The Jewish people hated tax collectors. They were people of no morals. They would sell their mother for a buck if they could (or at least that was the perception.)
and Jesus (and we all should know by now who He is) calls this "scum" to follow Him and be His disciple. Now that's different.
and now go and read Matthew 9:12-13....com'n, Go and do it. I'll wait (picture me waiting)
Jesus is unlike anyone else. He didn't do things the way anyone thought He should...and thank goodness or else we would all be in a world of hurt.
Continue to read with me the accounts of Jesus, the one like no other. We will be reading about Him until June so it's definitely not too late to join the journey...
...and who knows, when it's all said and done we might just be different as well :-)
Tomorrow's Reading:
Genesis 31-32 & Matthew 9:18-38
See ya then...
Key Verses: Matthew 9:2 & Matthew 9:9
What I love most about reading the accounts of Jesus is that fact that He is unlike anyone else. He doesn't act like anyone ever before and anyone since. He is original. Everything he did was so perfect, so right, and freaked just about everyone out. He was so different (and He still is.)
We look at Jesus from here in the future. We know who He is...I am not so certain even those closest to Him really understood who He was (that is until he rose from the dead...talk about different...but we will have more on that later.)
In Matthew 9:2 we see "Some people (bring) to (Jesus) a paralyzed man on a mat." Not an uncommon thing to happen. Jesus was healing many and the news had got around. But check out what Jesus says to the man and his friends.
Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.” (Matt. 9:2)
Excuse me?!?! Did that just happen?!?! Did he actually just say "Your sins are forgiven"?!?!
I am pretty sure only God himself can do that...in fact some teachers of religious law said as much. The scribes believed Jesus was dishonoring God by taking upon himself the prerogative to forgive sins, which only God can do.
"But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?” (Matt. 9:3)
(pause for effect :-)
Yes, He did!!!! (and that's because He is)
And then Jesus, just being Jesus says in so many words "You don't believe me do you? I know what your thinking, this guy says sins are forgiven, but come on...it's easy to say that. He has no proof"
Check out Matthew 9:5 “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
and that is just what the man did. He jumped up and went home. That is so awesome!!!!
That had all the people talking for sure, but then Jesus did something else so very.....well, different. Later he walks up to this guy named Matthew and says "Follow Me and be My disciple." So what's the big deal you ask? Well, Matthew was a tax collector and they were the lowest of the low. The Jewish people hated tax collectors. They were people of no morals. They would sell their mother for a buck if they could (or at least that was the perception.)
and Jesus (and we all should know by now who He is) calls this "scum" to follow Him and be His disciple. Now that's different.
and now go and read Matthew 9:12-13....com'n, Go and do it. I'll wait (picture me waiting)
Jesus is unlike anyone else. He didn't do things the way anyone thought He should...and thank goodness or else we would all be in a world of hurt.
Continue to read with me the accounts of Jesus, the one like no other. We will be reading about Him until June so it's definitely not too late to join the journey...
...and who knows, when it's all said and done we might just be different as well :-)
Tomorrow's Reading:
Genesis 31-32 & Matthew 9:18-38
See ya then...
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
A Look at Faith
Today's Reading: Matthew 8 & Genesis 27-28
Key Verses: Matthew 8:2, Matthew 8:9 & Matthew 8:26
What is faith??
In Matthew 8, among many other truths, we catch a glimpse of what faith is and what faith is not. As I read Matthew 8 I was struck by these three verses. In Matthew 8:2 we see a leper come and kneel before Jesus and say "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean."
A few things I noticed. Lepers suffered from more then just a disease, they were social outcasts. Jesus had crowds of people around him, following him, and yet this leper, this social outcast wanted healing so badly he was willing to go amongst many people in order to speak to Jesus. Why?? He had faith. He knew Jesus could heal him. By saying "if you will" he acknowledges the power of Jesus and that only Jesus could heal him. He knew who Jesus was and what He could do.
That's faith.
In Matthew 8:9 we see a not another leper but a Roman Centurion. He comes to Jesus and says “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.” It says he pleaded with Jesus to help him and Jesus said he would come and heal. But look at what the Centurion says "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed." The Centurion knew who he was, and who Jesus was. He also knew that Jesus could heal with just a word and he says as much in 8:9 "I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”
The centurion recognized Jesus’ authority. From his own experience, he knew that when he gave orders, they were quickly obeyed. He figured that God had entrusted Jesus with authority to work miracles.
He had an idea of who Jesus was and what He could do
Faith
Yet, we see the disciples, the hand picked fellows of Jesus in Matthew 23-27, in a boat with Jesus. There is a storm. A big storm, a Great storm. The boat was being flooded with waves. The disciples are freaking out...and Jesus is asleep. The disciples come, wake him, and say "Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
Really?!?! You are going to drown?!?! Don't you know who is in the boat with you?!?!?
Jesus says as much in his reply to their hysterics. "Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!”
Don't you know who I am??? Don't you know what I can do???
Then he calmed the storm.
So what is faith in God?? It's trust He can do what he says He can and that He will
That's Faith...and I want it :-)
Key Verses: Matthew 8:2, Matthew 8:9 & Matthew 8:26
What is faith??
In Matthew 8, among many other truths, we catch a glimpse of what faith is and what faith is not. As I read Matthew 8 I was struck by these three verses. In Matthew 8:2 we see a leper come and kneel before Jesus and say "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean."
A few things I noticed. Lepers suffered from more then just a disease, they were social outcasts. Jesus had crowds of people around him, following him, and yet this leper, this social outcast wanted healing so badly he was willing to go amongst many people in order to speak to Jesus. Why?? He had faith. He knew Jesus could heal him. By saying "if you will" he acknowledges the power of Jesus and that only Jesus could heal him. He knew who Jesus was and what He could do.
That's faith.
In Matthew 8:9 we see a not another leper but a Roman Centurion. He comes to Jesus and says “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.” It says he pleaded with Jesus to help him and Jesus said he would come and heal. But look at what the Centurion says "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed." The Centurion knew who he was, and who Jesus was. He also knew that Jesus could heal with just a word and he says as much in 8:9 "I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”
The centurion recognized Jesus’ authority. From his own experience, he knew that when he gave orders, they were quickly obeyed. He figured that God had entrusted Jesus with authority to work miracles.
He had an idea of who Jesus was and what He could do
Faith
Yet, we see the disciples, the hand picked fellows of Jesus in Matthew 23-27, in a boat with Jesus. There is a storm. A big storm, a Great storm. The boat was being flooded with waves. The disciples are freaking out...and Jesus is asleep. The disciples come, wake him, and say "Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
Really?!?! You are going to drown?!?! Don't you know who is in the boat with you?!?!?
Jesus says as much in his reply to their hysterics. "Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!”
Don't you know who I am??? Don't you know what I can do???
Then he calmed the storm.
So what is faith in God?? It's trust He can do what he says He can and that He will
That's Faith...and I want it :-)
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Build Your House the Right Way
Today's Readings:
Genesis 23-24 &
Matthew 7
Key Verses: Matthew 6:33, 7:24-27
Matthew is the book...and it just keeps getting better. 7:7-8 tells us that the one who seeks after God will find good things. 7:12 gives us the "Golden Rule." How do I choose a key verse amongst all these?...they are all so good. I chose today to settle on Matthew 6:33 (since I didn't write anything yesterday) and Matthew 7:24-27.
When I was 28, I was in a Bible Study with a few friends of mine. One night we all spent about 20 minutes alone with God. We searched our Bibles for verses that we could take with us each day. Verses we could memorize and try to live out. It was that night I read these words found in Philippians 4:6-7 "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." These words, written by Paul, are obviously inspired by the words of Jesus himself found in Matthew 6:25-33.
Jesus is talking about why we should not worry or be anxious. That God is good and He loves us more than we can possibly imagine. And then, in Matthew 6:33 Jesus speaks these words that ring as true today as they did 2,000 years ago.
"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."
The lesson here is clear. When we seek God first in all things, when we look to Him first for wisdom and knowledge. When seek to bring Him glory at all times...God will provide everything we need. Not everything we want, but all we need. What a tremendous promise and source of joy...and it is true. When I seek myself or other things first in life, life lacks all joy and peace. But when I seek Him first...peace and a joy no circumstance can take from me :-)
In many ways this concept is echoed again in Matthew 7:24-27. It asks us to look and think about what we build our lives upon. What truths, ideas, and realities we base our daily lives upon will determine everything. In Epic Jv (my middle school group) we have been learning about the book of Haggai found in the Old Testament. It is a book that asks us to look at our lives and our priorities. "Consider your ways" are the words God speaks through Haggai.
"Take a good, hard look at your life.
Think it over."
As we start this new year, it is a great time to look at our lives and examine what we put importance on. What is our life built upon? Where do we go for wisdom? Where have we placed our hope?
Continue reading with me this year....you won't regret it.
Read Genesis 22...I have really reading the Old Testament and seeing God tell His story through the lives of people who are...well, a lot like us.
Tomorrow's Reading: Matthew 8:1-17 & Genesis 25-26
Genesis 23-24 &
Matthew 7
Key Verses: Matthew 6:33, 7:24-27
Matthew is the book...and it just keeps getting better. 7:7-8 tells us that the one who seeks after God will find good things. 7:12 gives us the "Golden Rule." How do I choose a key verse amongst all these?...they are all so good. I chose today to settle on Matthew 6:33 (since I didn't write anything yesterday) and Matthew 7:24-27.
When I was 28, I was in a Bible Study with a few friends of mine. One night we all spent about 20 minutes alone with God. We searched our Bibles for verses that we could take with us each day. Verses we could memorize and try to live out. It was that night I read these words found in Philippians 4:6-7 "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." These words, written by Paul, are obviously inspired by the words of Jesus himself found in Matthew 6:25-33.
Jesus is talking about why we should not worry or be anxious. That God is good and He loves us more than we can possibly imagine. And then, in Matthew 6:33 Jesus speaks these words that ring as true today as they did 2,000 years ago.
"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."
The lesson here is clear. When we seek God first in all things, when we look to Him first for wisdom and knowledge. When seek to bring Him glory at all times...God will provide everything we need. Not everything we want, but all we need. What a tremendous promise and source of joy...and it is true. When I seek myself or other things first in life, life lacks all joy and peace. But when I seek Him first...peace and a joy no circumstance can take from me :-)
In many ways this concept is echoed again in Matthew 7:24-27. It asks us to look and think about what we build our lives upon. What truths, ideas, and realities we base our daily lives upon will determine everything. In Epic Jv (my middle school group) we have been learning about the book of Haggai found in the Old Testament. It is a book that asks us to look at our lives and our priorities. "Consider your ways" are the words God speaks through Haggai.
"Take a good, hard look at your life.
Think it over."
As we start this new year, it is a great time to look at our lives and examine what we put importance on. What is our life built upon? Where do we go for wisdom? Where have we placed our hope?
Continue reading with me this year....you won't regret it.
Read Genesis 22...I have really reading the Old Testament and seeing God tell His story through the lives of people who are...well, a lot like us.
Tomorrow's Reading: Matthew 8:1-17 & Genesis 25-26
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Today's Readings
Today's Readings are....
Matthew 16:19-34
Genesis 20-22
Check back later for my comments...and then add your own :-)
Matthew 16:19-34
Genesis 20-22
Check back later for my comments...and then add your own :-)
Friday, January 7, 2011
Take my Life and Let it Be.......
"All for you and for Your Glory."
Today's Readings: Genesis 18-19 & Matthew 6:1-18
Key Verses: Matthew 6:1
This is one of my favorite parts of the BIble, and I also think it is at times greatly misunderstood. "Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven."
But does God really want us to do things in secret?
I have heard it said this is what the verse is saying. That we are to be like the C.I.A of good deeds. I don't think that's true however. If one reads the verse closely, you will see it says "Don't do your deeds to be admired by others Later on in verse, when talking about giving it says "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others."
The focus here is not on doing things in secret. The focus is on the why behind your acts. What is the driving force behind your deeds? Are they to bring praise to you, or glory to God?
and then in verse 6:9 Jesus teaches us to pray...and it starts like this
"Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven."
and if you look at this prayer, and how it starts, there's the point. The prayer is focused fully upon God as should be our lives. Our lives are to be given for the glory of the one who created everything so when people see what we do, God will get the glory.
"Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." Jesus says in Matthew 5:16.
The Point: Righteousness should not be done for public recognition but as a service to God.
So stop sneaking around and being a "covert Christian." It's not wrong if someone knows you did something Godly...just make sure the praise goes in the right direction.
P.S. Keep up with the Old Testament Readings. I will something to say about them tomorrow.
Today's Readings: Genesis 18-19 & Matthew 6:1-18
Key Verses: Matthew 6:1
This is one of my favorite parts of the BIble, and I also think it is at times greatly misunderstood. "Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven."
But does God really want us to do things in secret?
I have heard it said this is what the verse is saying. That we are to be like the C.I.A of good deeds. I don't think that's true however. If one reads the verse closely, you will see it says "Don't do your deeds to be admired by others Later on in verse, when talking about giving it says "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others."
The focus here is not on doing things in secret. The focus is on the why behind your acts. What is the driving force behind your deeds? Are they to bring praise to you, or glory to God?
and then in verse 6:9 Jesus teaches us to pray...and it starts like this
"Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven."
and if you look at this prayer, and how it starts, there's the point. The prayer is focused fully upon God as should be our lives. Our lives are to be given for the glory of the one who created everything so when people see what we do, God will get the glory.
"Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." Jesus says in Matthew 5:16.
The Point: Righteousness should not be done for public recognition but as a service to God.
So stop sneaking around and being a "covert Christian." It's not wrong if someone knows you did something Godly...just make sure the praise goes in the right direction.
P.S. Keep up with the Old Testament Readings. I will something to say about them tomorrow.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
God's Timing, Not Ours
Today's Readings: Genesis 16-17 & Matthew 5:27-48
Key Verses: Genesis 17:17 & ALL of Matthew 5:27-48
Yoda: "I cannot teach him. The boy has no patience."
Obi-Wan: "He will learn patience."
We do not like to wait, and we think we always know best...and those two things rarely work out well for us. My son is extremely impatient (gee I wonder where he got that from). The only good thing about his impatience is the fact I get to quote Star Wars and say "Patience my young padawan."
In Genesis, God had promised Abram (soon to be Abraham) that he would be the father of a great nation. That his descendants would be "so many that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted!". Yet, he was nearly 100 years old, and his wife wasn't much younger. So in Genesis 16 they thought they might just hurry God's timing along...and without getting into too much politics right now, the results of their impatience hasn't really worked out well for anyone. It's been causing problems for a long time.
That's what happens when we take matters into or own hands, fail to trust God and his timing, and go off on our own. We mess everything up. And the effects of our actions are far greater than we can ever know.
God was going to give Abraham his son. God was going to cause Sarah to get pregnant...all they had to do was wait.
Easier said than done. You know, I work with middle school students and I created this mostly for them. I remember middle school, high school, and college. Asking kids to wait on certain things seems like an impossible task. They want to be grown ups now so they rush the clock...and things usually happen...things no one wants to happen...and lives are forever changed.
It is difficult to wait for the things God has promised. Heck, there are things God never promised, but we want those things, and so we just go off on our own...
"Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."
- Psalm 27:14
To live in faith means to wait patiently in recognition of the Lord’s goodness. Such a life is not always pleasant for the godly but our future is secure. God does promise good things for those who have faith and "wait" upon Him and Him alone. What God has planned for our lives both now and for all eternity is far beyond what we can comprehend as we live today.
So grab a seat upon this bench with me my friends...and let's do a little waiting together. Who knows, it might just be more fun than we know.
P.S. Please read Matthew 5:27-48...it is life altering and mind blowing!!!!!
Tomorrow's Readings: Matthew 6:1-18 & Genesis 18-19
Key Verses: Genesis 17:17 & ALL of Matthew 5:27-48
Yoda: "I cannot teach him. The boy has no patience."
Obi-Wan: "He will learn patience."
We do not like to wait, and we think we always know best...and those two things rarely work out well for us. My son is extremely impatient (gee I wonder where he got that from). The only good thing about his impatience is the fact I get to quote Star Wars and say "Patience my young padawan."
In Genesis, God had promised Abram (soon to be Abraham) that he would be the father of a great nation. That his descendants would be "so many that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted!". Yet, he was nearly 100 years old, and his wife wasn't much younger. So in Genesis 16 they thought they might just hurry God's timing along...and without getting into too much politics right now, the results of their impatience hasn't really worked out well for anyone. It's been causing problems for a long time.
That's what happens when we take matters into or own hands, fail to trust God and his timing, and go off on our own. We mess everything up. And the effects of our actions are far greater than we can ever know.
God was going to give Abraham his son. God was going to cause Sarah to get pregnant...all they had to do was wait.
Easier said than done. You know, I work with middle school students and I created this mostly for them. I remember middle school, high school, and college. Asking kids to wait on certain things seems like an impossible task. They want to be grown ups now so they rush the clock...and things usually happen...things no one wants to happen...and lives are forever changed.
It is difficult to wait for the things God has promised. Heck, there are things God never promised, but we want those things, and so we just go off on our own...
"Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."
- Psalm 27:14
To live in faith means to wait patiently in recognition of the Lord’s goodness. Such a life is not always pleasant for the godly but our future is secure. God does promise good things for those who have faith and "wait" upon Him and Him alone. What God has planned for our lives both now and for all eternity is far beyond what we can comprehend as we live today.
So grab a seat upon this bench with me my friends...and let's do a little waiting together. Who knows, it might just be more fun than we know.
P.S. Please read Matthew 5:27-48...it is life altering and mind blowing!!!!!
Tomorrow's Readings: Matthew 6:1-18 & Genesis 18-19
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Salt and Light
Today's Readings: Genesis 13-15 & Matthew 5:1-26
Key Verse: Matthew 5:13
It's the Attitude behind the Act. It's not the Deed but the Desire.
These were words spoken in a sermon I recently listened to by a famous preacher and it is the main idea presented in Matthew 5. One could write an entire book about Matthew 5. They have actually. Many an author has written on the words spoken in Matthew 5. The beginning of what has become known as "The Sermon on the Mount." A speech given by Jesus that set everything upon it's ear. There are so much truth presented here one could spend a lifetime dwelling upon it's meaning.
That's actually not a bad idea.
Yet in the midst of this grand chapter of God's word, verse 5:13 stands out in a way I have never noticed until just today. Jesus is presenting to us the truth that what is on the inside is what matters. The words found in I Samuel 16:7 says, "The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” God is not so concerned with the outside as He is with the inside. And the outside is only validated insofar as it is representative of what is on the inside.
This idea that life springs from what is inside is repeated over and over again in scripture but it is "crystallized" here in Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless."
It is no accident that in a chapter where God tells us to examine the internal he compares us to salt. Think about it, why is salt valuable? Why is salt able to get done what it needs to get done? Why do people use salt? Well, I hate to be overly simple but the reason is...IT'S SALT!!!!
What makes salt salt?? It's what you find on the inside. If you change the the internal chemistry of salt, you no longer have salt. The only reason salt is useful is because of that which makes it salt.
Jesus here is saying "You want to live for me?? It starts on the inside in your heart and mind." You take care of the attitude the actions will flow. I think that is why I love reading my Bible. It changes my heart. It transforms my mind, the way I think. It turns me into...well...salt. The kind of "salt" God can use.
Matthew 5 is all about attitude. It is all about how you see and think about things. It is a great chapter of my favorite book and I seriously encourage everyone (myself included) to wake up every morning and before you do anything read Matthew 5.
Imagine what life would look like if we all did...It's easy if you try :-)
P.S. I know I didn't comment on it, but read the Old Testament verse as well.
Tomorrow's Reading: Matthew 5:27-48 & Genesis 16-17
Key Verse: Matthew 5:13
It's the Attitude behind the Act. It's not the Deed but the Desire.
These were words spoken in a sermon I recently listened to by a famous preacher and it is the main idea presented in Matthew 5. One could write an entire book about Matthew 5. They have actually. Many an author has written on the words spoken in Matthew 5. The beginning of what has become known as "The Sermon on the Mount." A speech given by Jesus that set everything upon it's ear. There are so much truth presented here one could spend a lifetime dwelling upon it's meaning.
That's actually not a bad idea.
Yet in the midst of this grand chapter of God's word, verse 5:13 stands out in a way I have never noticed until just today. Jesus is presenting to us the truth that what is on the inside is what matters. The words found in I Samuel 16:7 says, "The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” God is not so concerned with the outside as He is with the inside. And the outside is only validated insofar as it is representative of what is on the inside.
This idea that life springs from what is inside is repeated over and over again in scripture but it is "crystallized" here in Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless."
It is no accident that in a chapter where God tells us to examine the internal he compares us to salt. Think about it, why is salt valuable? Why is salt able to get done what it needs to get done? Why do people use salt? Well, I hate to be overly simple but the reason is...IT'S SALT!!!!
What makes salt salt?? It's what you find on the inside. If you change the the internal chemistry of salt, you no longer have salt. The only reason salt is useful is because of that which makes it salt.
Jesus here is saying "You want to live for me?? It starts on the inside in your heart and mind." You take care of the attitude the actions will flow. I think that is why I love reading my Bible. It changes my heart. It transforms my mind, the way I think. It turns me into...well...salt. The kind of "salt" God can use.
Matthew 5 is all about attitude. It is all about how you see and think about things. It is a great chapter of my favorite book and I seriously encourage everyone (myself included) to wake up every morning and before you do anything read Matthew 5.
Imagine what life would look like if we all did...It's easy if you try :-)
P.S. I know I didn't comment on it, but read the Old Testament verse as well.
Tomorrow's Reading: Matthew 5:27-48 & Genesis 16-17
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
It's Tuesday...day 2
Today's Readings: Genesis 10-12 & Matthew 4
Key Verses: Genesis 12:4 & Matthew 4:18-22
Time to go...
Tonight is Tuesday. Epic Jv night. The night of the week I spend with many of my favorite middle school students. Tonight one of the students asked me "Erin, what does it mean live by faith and not by sight?"
hhmmmmm.....
I think tonight's verses show us the meaning of this phrase. In Genesis 12:4 we read "So Abram went, as the LORD had told him." (ESV) God told Abram (soon to be renamed Abraham) to leave his home, the home of his fathers and travel to an unknown land. God's invitation to Abram challenges him to abandon the normal sources of personal identity and security: His family and country. To obey, Abram must trust God. He obediently left his old ways in his country to follow God’s plan.
Trust God...what a concept.
In Matthew 4:18-22 we see the same thing.
"One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him. A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind."
Picture that, your just doing what you do. What you are comfortable doing and this guy calls out to you "hey, follow me" and you go. Granted the call comes from Jesus. I imagine he could be quite convincing. But they just go...not knowing how it will work out...they just go.
In July of 2008 I was simply filling in as a guest speaker in my church's youth group. No plans of making such a thing permanent. I was happy with the way life was...very happy. One moment I was living my life, doing what I was comfortable with...
...and the next God is saying "Come, follow me...Go to the land I will show you." It was scary, it was confusing, it was extremely unknown, but I knew it was right.
God calls to us daily to simply go and follow and He promises time and time again we won't be sorry.
So what are you waiting for???
Tomorrow's Readings: Matthew 5 & Genesis 13-15
Key Verses: Genesis 12:4 & Matthew 4:18-22
Time to go...
Tonight is Tuesday. Epic Jv night. The night of the week I spend with many of my favorite middle school students. Tonight one of the students asked me "Erin, what does it mean live by faith and not by sight?"
hhmmmmm.....
I think tonight's verses show us the meaning of this phrase. In Genesis 12:4 we read "So Abram went, as the LORD had told him." (ESV) God told Abram (soon to be renamed Abraham) to leave his home, the home of his fathers and travel to an unknown land. God's invitation to Abram challenges him to abandon the normal sources of personal identity and security: His family and country. To obey, Abram must trust God. He obediently left his old ways in his country to follow God’s plan.
Trust God...what a concept.
In Matthew 4:18-22 we see the same thing.
"One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him. A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind."
Picture that, your just doing what you do. What you are comfortable doing and this guy calls out to you "hey, follow me" and you go. Granted the call comes from Jesus. I imagine he could be quite convincing. But they just go...not knowing how it will work out...they just go.
In July of 2008 I was simply filling in as a guest speaker in my church's youth group. No plans of making such a thing permanent. I was happy with the way life was...very happy. One moment I was living my life, doing what I was comfortable with...
...and the next God is saying "Come, follow me...Go to the land I will show you." It was scary, it was confusing, it was extremely unknown, but I knew it was right.
God calls to us daily to simply go and follow and He promises time and time again we won't be sorry.
So what are you waiting for???
Tomorrow's Readings: Matthew 5 & Genesis 13-15
Monday, January 3, 2011
Day 1...The Journey Begins...
Today's Reading: Matthew 3 & Genesis 7-9
Major Themes: John the Baptist (Mt.) and Noah (Gen.)
Key Verses: Matthew 3:11 & Genesis 7:5
One of the things I learned early on in my Bible study was to look for key verses. Verses that jump right off the page that sum up all the other verses written. I suppose when i read next year my "key verses" may change. We will see.
So why these verses?
In Genesis you read of Noah. You know, the guy who built the ark. I have often thought about Noah, spending so many years of his life building this large boat simply because God told him to. He had no other reason to do so. It's not as if the weather channel had the 120 year weather outlook. At best, with all of today's technology, we get a 10 day outlook...and that usually changes about 120 times during the course of those 10 days. I saw the movie"Evan Almighty" the other week and all the grief he went through building his ark...imagine 120 years of that kind of grief?!?! Yet Noah did it.
and why???
Well, the answer is found in Genesis 7:5 "So Noah did everything as the Lord commanded him." That's it. Noah did everything the Lord commanded him. Did it make sense?? Probably not. I am taken back to the famous Bill Cosby routine. Look it up. Download it off iTunes if you can. It's funny...and probably somewhat true. Read the whole account of Noah and ask yourself, if you were put in Noah's shoes, would you have done what God asked you to do? I am not sure I could say yes.
But Noah did.
Ponder the words of Genesis 7:5...now go and do likewise :-)
In Matthew we meet another man. A man similar to Noah in many ways. The thing I like most about John the Baptist is his attitude. It was one of great humility and understanding of his place in God's grand story. He knew he was important. He knew God loved him. He knew he was a special guy with a special purpose.
But John still knew his place.
Matthew 3:11 "“I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
"Someone is coming who is greater than I am-so much greater that I am not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals."
No worthy to carry some one's shoes?!?! How low do you have to be not to be worthy of the "honor" of carrying another's shoes?
Well, when the sandals belong to the creator of the universe...you can see his point.
See, John spoke these words about Jesus. His statement says less about him and far more about who Jesus is and the honor and reference...the "fear" he deserves. John knew it and he lived it.
Noah. simply following God when told and John with his humble reverence of Jesus...I long to be more like these guys in my life.
What do you think????
Tomorrow's Readings: Matthew 4 & Genesis 10-12
Major Themes: John the Baptist (Mt.) and Noah (Gen.)
Key Verses: Matthew 3:11 & Genesis 7:5
One of the things I learned early on in my Bible study was to look for key verses. Verses that jump right off the page that sum up all the other verses written. I suppose when i read next year my "key verses" may change. We will see.
So why these verses?
In Genesis you read of Noah. You know, the guy who built the ark. I have often thought about Noah, spending so many years of his life building this large boat simply because God told him to. He had no other reason to do so. It's not as if the weather channel had the 120 year weather outlook. At best, with all of today's technology, we get a 10 day outlook...and that usually changes about 120 times during the course of those 10 days. I saw the movie"Evan Almighty" the other week and all the grief he went through building his ark...imagine 120 years of that kind of grief?!?! Yet Noah did it.
and why???
Well, the answer is found in Genesis 7:5 "So Noah did everything as the Lord commanded him." That's it. Noah did everything the Lord commanded him. Did it make sense?? Probably not. I am taken back to the famous Bill Cosby routine. Look it up. Download it off iTunes if you can. It's funny...and probably somewhat true. Read the whole account of Noah and ask yourself, if you were put in Noah's shoes, would you have done what God asked you to do? I am not sure I could say yes.
But Noah did.
Ponder the words of Genesis 7:5...now go and do likewise :-)
In Matthew we meet another man. A man similar to Noah in many ways. The thing I like most about John the Baptist is his attitude. It was one of great humility and understanding of his place in God's grand story. He knew he was important. He knew God loved him. He knew he was a special guy with a special purpose.
But John still knew his place.
Matthew 3:11 "“I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
"Someone is coming who is greater than I am-so much greater that I am not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals."
No worthy to carry some one's shoes?!?! How low do you have to be not to be worthy of the "honor" of carrying another's shoes?
Well, when the sandals belong to the creator of the universe...you can see his point.
See, John spoke these words about Jesus. His statement says less about him and far more about who Jesus is and the honor and reference...the "fear" he deserves. John knew it and he lived it.
Noah. simply following God when told and John with his humble reverence of Jesus...I long to be more like these guys in my life.
What do you think????
Tomorrow's Readings: Matthew 4 & Genesis 10-12
A Year in the Word
So I was watching T.V with my wife last night..."Julie and Julia" to be precise. Yes, I know it's a bit of a girl movie but it gave me a great idea. Why not read through "The Bible" in a year and log my thoughts. I am quite certain I am not the first to do this nor am I the only the only one doing this currently.
So why bother?!?!
Well, I am a middle school pastor and I really want to get kids reading the Bible. Who knows, this may inspire them to come along with me on my journey...we will see.
So, stay tuned...the journey begins momentarily.
So why bother?!?!
Well, I am a middle school pastor and I really want to get kids reading the Bible. Who knows, this may inspire them to come along with me on my journey...we will see.
So, stay tuned...the journey begins momentarily.
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