SCRIPTURE
"John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood-and he has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father-to Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." (Rev. 1:4-6)
OBSERVATION
John's picture of Jesus is a far cry from the typical images we see represented in art and film. He's a meek, mild-mannered, guy in a robe whose hair is never out of place speaking with some sort of King James-American-Middle Eastern accent. John's vision some 50-60 years after Jesus ascended back to heaven is one of a King who has a kingdom. Those who have been released from their sins by his blood are part of the kingdom. It's not a temporary state. His dominion will last forever and ever. He is eternal, "is, was, and is to come."
APPLICATION
Every once-in-a-while, actually more often than not, I need to be reminded of the real Jesus." Yes, He was compassionated, forgiving, and merciful, but he was not a wimp. He's in heaven, right now, seated at the right hand of God, the place of power and authority. I'm part of an eternal kingdom even as I walk on this earth. No matter how crazy life can get "down here" the kingdom I belong to is forever. Even the kings of the earth are ruled by Jesus. The amazing thing is that He loves us. "Loves" is present tense, in the here and now.
PRAYER
Lord, thanks for the reminder of the awesomeness and power of Jesus. Like John, I want my life to be a response of "wow!" This is true worship. Amen.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Champion for the "Least of These"
SCRIPTURE
"Thus says the Lord, 'Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place" (Jeremiah 22:3)
OBSERVATION
God has a heart for the most vulnerable in society. He is always concerned about those who cannot care for themselves. In the Bible the three He mentions again and again are the orphan, the widow, and the stranger. Those who were dependant on others for survival...especially in the Old Testament, those who did not have a permanent position in society. They were without a home but that did not mean they were to be homeless. God places the responsibility to care for the "least of these" on His people. His heart is for the weak and poor.
APPLICATION
For my heart to become more like God's I need to develop a care and concern for those who are the most vulnerable in our society. James calls it "pure and undefiled religion" (Js. 1:27). What a great opportunity I have as part of the church, the community of faith, to provide a home for those who are disenfranchised and disconnected from society. I need to have a concern for those whom God is concerned about. We live in a world that can seem unjust and unfair but I can be part of the solution by bringing justice for those who have no voice...by being a champion for the "least of these."
PRAYER
Lord, your concern for people, especially those who are weak, shows me of your great love and concern for people, regardless of who they are. Give me a heart like yours. Help me to be attentive to those who do not have a "home," those who need to experience your love. Amen.
"Thus says the Lord, 'Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place" (Jeremiah 22:3)
OBSERVATION
God has a heart for the most vulnerable in society. He is always concerned about those who cannot care for themselves. In the Bible the three He mentions again and again are the orphan, the widow, and the stranger. Those who were dependant on others for survival...especially in the Old Testament, those who did not have a permanent position in society. They were without a home but that did not mean they were to be homeless. God places the responsibility to care for the "least of these" on His people. His heart is for the weak and poor.
APPLICATION
For my heart to become more like God's I need to develop a care and concern for those who are the most vulnerable in our society. James calls it "pure and undefiled religion" (Js. 1:27). What a great opportunity I have as part of the church, the community of faith, to provide a home for those who are disenfranchised and disconnected from society. I need to have a concern for those whom God is concerned about. We live in a world that can seem unjust and unfair but I can be part of the solution by bringing justice for those who have no voice...by being a champion for the "least of these."
PRAYER
Lord, your concern for people, especially those who are weak, shows me of your great love and concern for people, regardless of who they are. Give me a heart like yours. Help me to be attentive to those who do not have a "home," those who need to experience your love. Amen.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Drought
SCRIPTURE
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence indeed is the Lord. He will be like a tree planted by water: it sends its roots out toward a stream, it doesn't fear when heat comes, and its foliage remains green. It will not worry in a year of drought or cease producing fruit." (Jeremiah 17:7-8)
OBSERVATION
I never thought about a tree being fearful or worrying. I suppose there are quite a few things that could cause a tree to be anxious; chainsaws, woodpeckers, and hail come to mind. In this paragraph, Jeremiah writes about heat and drought. The only way the tree survives is by sending its roots out toward a stream where it is nourished and sustained through the rough time.
APPLICATION
This passage isn't about a tree it's about me. What will I do in times of drought and heat? Those times when the pressure's on and things aren't going so well. If I trust in myself I tend to ask, "How can I figure this out?" If I trust in money I worry, "Will I have enough to make it?" If I trust in others I'm anxious, "Will they let me down?" All of those questions can leave me worried and fearful. However to be blessed, I need to trust in the Lord. He's my confidence and source of strength...even in the droughts of life.
The tree was planted by the stream but it had to do something...send out its roots. God is always near but it's up to me to seek him and reach out to him. It's a decision to trust in God. When I trust in Him I can do more than survive I can produce fruit in my life by learning valuable lessons, growing to become more like Christ, strengthening my faith, etc. I realize life is like the weather, it can change from one minute to the next, sometimes drastically. But instead of withering in the heat I can weather the storm, not just surviving but thriving. I can be blessed by trusting in the Lord.
PRAYER
God, thank you that you are there in the droughts of life. Help me to trust in you, especially in the dry times when the heat is on. Amen.
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence indeed is the Lord. He will be like a tree planted by water: it sends its roots out toward a stream, it doesn't fear when heat comes, and its foliage remains green. It will not worry in a year of drought or cease producing fruit." (Jeremiah 17:7-8)
OBSERVATION
I never thought about a tree being fearful or worrying. I suppose there are quite a few things that could cause a tree to be anxious; chainsaws, woodpeckers, and hail come to mind. In this paragraph, Jeremiah writes about heat and drought. The only way the tree survives is by sending its roots out toward a stream where it is nourished and sustained through the rough time.
APPLICATION
This passage isn't about a tree it's about me. What will I do in times of drought and heat? Those times when the pressure's on and things aren't going so well. If I trust in myself I tend to ask, "How can I figure this out?" If I trust in money I worry, "Will I have enough to make it?" If I trust in others I'm anxious, "Will they let me down?" All of those questions can leave me worried and fearful. However to be blessed, I need to trust in the Lord. He's my confidence and source of strength...even in the droughts of life.
The tree was planted by the stream but it had to do something...send out its roots. God is always near but it's up to me to seek him and reach out to him. It's a decision to trust in God. When I trust in Him I can do more than survive I can produce fruit in my life by learning valuable lessons, growing to become more like Christ, strengthening my faith, etc. I realize life is like the weather, it can change from one minute to the next, sometimes drastically. But instead of withering in the heat I can weather the storm, not just surviving but thriving. I can be blessed by trusting in the Lord.
PRAYER
God, thank you that you are there in the droughts of life. Help me to trust in you, especially in the dry times when the heat is on. Amen.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Spiritual Blindness
SCRIPTURE
The disciples thought a blind man's condition was the result of sin. "His disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?'" Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath so the Pharisees accused him of being a sinner. "We know this man is a sinner." When the formerly blind man was questioned by the Pharisees and did not give them the answers they were looking for they also accused him. "You were steeped in sin at birth." (John 9:2, 24, 34)
OBSERVATION
There were a lot of accusations thrown around in these paragraphs. None of them proved to be true. The man was not blind as a result of sin. Jesus obviously was not a sinner. Just because the man would not agree that Jesus was a sinner did not make him steeped in sin. None of these perceptions were accurate. Until Jesus spoke. He addressed the Pharisees themselves and told them that because they claimed to see things clearly (when in fact they did not) they were really blind to the whole situation and they were the ones guilty of sin. Their spiritual blindness was far worse than the man's physical blindness.
APPLICATION
It's easy to give the reasons why. Why people act the way they do. Why people make bad choices. Why people get sick. Why Barry Bonds keeps testing negative for steroids. My perception may not be, and probably isn't, the whole picture. There is still a sense of mystery and the unknown when it comes to God. If I think I have it all worked out I may just be seeing the situation with my own spiritual blinders on. I've come to the point in my life where I don't need to figure it all out. The things God wants me to know he has revealed in the Bible, but beyond that there is so much mystery, so much unknown. This interaction with Jesus and the blind man reminds me that life is not reduced to a series of formulas. There is not a cause and effect for everything. I'll just respond to Jesus like the man formerly known as blind, "Lord, I believe, and he worshiped him." (9:38)
PRAYER
Father, thank you that you have revealed yourself through the Bible. But beyond that, the wonder of who you are, the unknown, causes me to worship. Help me to see life through the lens of your truth and not through my own perception. Amen.
The disciples thought a blind man's condition was the result of sin. "His disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?'" Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath so the Pharisees accused him of being a sinner. "We know this man is a sinner." When the formerly blind man was questioned by the Pharisees and did not give them the answers they were looking for they also accused him. "You were steeped in sin at birth." (John 9:2, 24, 34)
OBSERVATION
There were a lot of accusations thrown around in these paragraphs. None of them proved to be true. The man was not blind as a result of sin. Jesus obviously was not a sinner. Just because the man would not agree that Jesus was a sinner did not make him steeped in sin. None of these perceptions were accurate. Until Jesus spoke. He addressed the Pharisees themselves and told them that because they claimed to see things clearly (when in fact they did not) they were really blind to the whole situation and they were the ones guilty of sin. Their spiritual blindness was far worse than the man's physical blindness.
APPLICATION
It's easy to give the reasons why. Why people act the way they do. Why people make bad choices. Why people get sick. Why Barry Bonds keeps testing negative for steroids. My perception may not be, and probably isn't, the whole picture. There is still a sense of mystery and the unknown when it comes to God. If I think I have it all worked out I may just be seeing the situation with my own spiritual blinders on. I've come to the point in my life where I don't need to figure it all out. The things God wants me to know he has revealed in the Bible, but beyond that there is so much mystery, so much unknown. This interaction with Jesus and the blind man reminds me that life is not reduced to a series of formulas. There is not a cause and effect for everything. I'll just respond to Jesus like the man formerly known as blind, "Lord, I believe, and he worshiped him." (9:38)
PRAYER
Father, thank you that you have revealed yourself through the Bible. But beyond that, the wonder of who you are, the unknown, causes me to worship. Help me to see life through the lens of your truth and not through my own perception. Amen.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Hanging Out With Jesus
SCRIPTURE
"The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, 'Look, the Lamb of God!' When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, 'What do you want?' They said, 'Rabbi' (which means Teacher), 'where are you staying?' 'Come,' he replied, 'and you will see.' So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him." (John 1:35-39)
OBSERVATION
John the Baptist's ministry was to point other people to Jesus. In this passage, two of his disciples left him to follow Jesus. The scene is kind of humorous. These two disciples don't say anything they just start walking behind him. It's the, "I think I'm being followed" feeling. Jesus noticed them and turned around to ask them what they wanted. They wanted to go where he was staying. It was customary for students of a Rabbi to not just follow, but to live with their teacher. That is what these two disciples do. The cool thing is they went and spent the day with Jesus just hanging out with him. How great would that be to spend some time at Jesus' place?
APPLICATION
I'm reminded that I am to spend every day with Jesus. Not at his place, that'd be heaven but as a Christian, he lives in me so I have the opportunity to hang out with him everyday. Unfortunately, it's easy to forget our living arrangement and his daily presence from time to time. The busyness of work, daily tasks, family, and a myriad of other things tend to draw my attention away from Christ. Jesus encouraged these disciples to spend time with him, to get to know him and ultimately to become more like him. That is what I need to do as well. Spend time with him through prayer, worship, and reading the Bible with the ultimate goal of becoming more like him.
PRAYER
Father, thanks for reminding me that I'm to spend time with Jesus. Just to get to know him so I can become more like him. Amen.
"The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, 'Look, the Lamb of God!' When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, 'What do you want?' They said, 'Rabbi' (which means Teacher), 'where are you staying?' 'Come,' he replied, 'and you will see.' So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him." (John 1:35-39)
OBSERVATION
John the Baptist's ministry was to point other people to Jesus. In this passage, two of his disciples left him to follow Jesus. The scene is kind of humorous. These two disciples don't say anything they just start walking behind him. It's the, "I think I'm being followed" feeling. Jesus noticed them and turned around to ask them what they wanted. They wanted to go where he was staying. It was customary for students of a Rabbi to not just follow, but to live with their teacher. That is what these two disciples do. The cool thing is they went and spent the day with Jesus just hanging out with him. How great would that be to spend some time at Jesus' place?
APPLICATION
I'm reminded that I am to spend every day with Jesus. Not at his place, that'd be heaven but as a Christian, he lives in me so I have the opportunity to hang out with him everyday. Unfortunately, it's easy to forget our living arrangement and his daily presence from time to time. The busyness of work, daily tasks, family, and a myriad of other things tend to draw my attention away from Christ. Jesus encouraged these disciples to spend time with him, to get to know him and ultimately to become more like him. That is what I need to do as well. Spend time with him through prayer, worship, and reading the Bible with the ultimate goal of becoming more like him.
PRAYER
Father, thanks for reminding me that I'm to spend time with Jesus. Just to get to know him so I can become more like him. Amen.
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