SCRIPTURE
"The Lord told Aaron,' You will not have an inheritance in their land; there will be no portion among them for you. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites'." (Numbers 18:20)
OBSERVATION
When the Israelites entered the Promised Land it was divided among the twelve tribes. Each tribe received a portion of the land...an inheritance. However, the Levites were the priestly tribe. They served at the Tabernacle administering the sacrifices and overseeing the worship. They did not receive a land inheritance they received the work of the priesthood as their gift. Instead of land, God was their portion.
APPLICATION
If I were a Levite, I'd like to think that I would be satisfied with God as my portion...no land, no inheritance, no real estate...just God. I'd probably feel like the next kid in line right after Santa ran out of presents. I was wondering though, would He be enough? I mean really enough. What if I had nothing? What if everything I had disappeared? Could I still be happy with God and only God, as my portion, my everything? Part of my spiritual growth is to move in that direction. The place where God is my all in all and nothing else will satisfy.
PRAYER
Lord, I'm not sure I'd be content without my stuff. Help me to have a lesser attachment to things and a greater attachment to You. Amen.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
State of Mind
SCRIPTURE
Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. Instead I preached to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem and in all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance. (Acts 26:19-20)
OBSERVATION
Paul is on trial before King Agrippa. He has just retold his conversion story and commission by Jesus to preach the good news to the Gentiles. This verse summarizes his message. "Repent and do works worthy of repentance."
Repent means to change your mind. Paul told the Gentiles they should change their mind about their life and the direction it was going. Once they changed their mind they would turn to God. He is the one who can save them.
If repent means a change of mind, repentance means a state of mind. There is the initial decision to change (repent) and the lifestyle that follows (repentance). How do we know if we've repented? Our lifestyle will back it up with works. John the Baptist called it fruit (Mt. 3:8). True repentance is more than lip service. Deciding to change and living the change are two different things. The decision moves from a change of mind to a change of lifestyle.
APPLICATION
There are a lot of things I want to change. I find it easy to repent, change my mind about something but a lot harder to live in the state of mind...repentance. I can know a lot in my head but getting it to impact my life is the true test of any decision. I can change my mind and decide salt is bad for me (repent). But it's not until I start eating without picking up the salt shaker (repentance) that my decision produces fruit (and lower blood pressure).
PRAYER
Lord, I don't just want to change my mind but I want to live with a new state of mind about my relationship with you. I want the fruit of repentance to be evident in my life. Amen.
Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. Instead I preached to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem and in all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance. (Acts 26:19-20)
OBSERVATION
Paul is on trial before King Agrippa. He has just retold his conversion story and commission by Jesus to preach the good news to the Gentiles. This verse summarizes his message. "Repent and do works worthy of repentance."
Repent means to change your mind. Paul told the Gentiles they should change their mind about their life and the direction it was going. Once they changed their mind they would turn to God. He is the one who can save them.
If repent means a change of mind, repentance means a state of mind. There is the initial decision to change (repent) and the lifestyle that follows (repentance). How do we know if we've repented? Our lifestyle will back it up with works. John the Baptist called it fruit (Mt. 3:8). True repentance is more than lip service. Deciding to change and living the change are two different things. The decision moves from a change of mind to a change of lifestyle.
APPLICATION
There are a lot of things I want to change. I find it easy to repent, change my mind about something but a lot harder to live in the state of mind...repentance. I can know a lot in my head but getting it to impact my life is the true test of any decision. I can change my mind and decide salt is bad for me (repent). But it's not until I start eating without picking up the salt shaker (repentance) that my decision produces fruit (and lower blood pressure).
PRAYER
Lord, I don't just want to change my mind but I want to live with a new state of mind about my relationship with you. I want the fruit of repentance to be evident in my life. Amen.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Lay it on the Line
SCRIPTURE
And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, bound in my spirit, not knowing what I will encounter there, except that in town after town the Holy Spirit testifies to me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me. But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God's grace. (Acts 20:22-24)
OBSERVATION
Paul was ready to go to prison for his ministry. His focus was always on the Lord and other people. He was willing to endure beatings, imprisonment, shipwrecks, sleepless nights and hunger, just so he could share the good news about Jesus with people. In the big scheme of his life, it was his life that he was willing to forfeit so others could know God's grace. I've always admired Paul's perseverance, courage, and ability to endure physical harm to finish the course the Lord laid out for him.
APPLICATION
I think that's the kind of followers Jesus is still looking for. People who are not afraid to lay it all on the line for the sake of the gospel. I'm afraid I get too comfortable. I certainly am not threatened with imprisonment or beatings for my faith. No, I'm worried about things far more important...like how I will look to others when they find out I'm a follower of Christ (or discover my profession). Or, when I've had non-church jobs, how I will come across to co-workers. I can value my life (actually my ego, pride) more than I value the spiritual well-being of others. I have a long way to go to even come close to Paul's level of endurance and commitment. But it is exactly that attitude that will change the world for Jesus Christ.
PRAYER
Lord, give me the courage and strength of Paul. There is nothing more valuable than people knowing about God's grace.
And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, bound in my spirit, not knowing what I will encounter there, except that in town after town the Holy Spirit testifies to me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me. But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God's grace. (Acts 20:22-24)
OBSERVATION
Paul was ready to go to prison for his ministry. His focus was always on the Lord and other people. He was willing to endure beatings, imprisonment, shipwrecks, sleepless nights and hunger, just so he could share the good news about Jesus with people. In the big scheme of his life, it was his life that he was willing to forfeit so others could know God's grace. I've always admired Paul's perseverance, courage, and ability to endure physical harm to finish the course the Lord laid out for him.
APPLICATION
I think that's the kind of followers Jesus is still looking for. People who are not afraid to lay it all on the line for the sake of the gospel. I'm afraid I get too comfortable. I certainly am not threatened with imprisonment or beatings for my faith. No, I'm worried about things far more important...like how I will look to others when they find out I'm a follower of Christ (or discover my profession). Or, when I've had non-church jobs, how I will come across to co-workers. I can value my life (actually my ego, pride) more than I value the spiritual well-being of others. I have a long way to go to even come close to Paul's level of endurance and commitment. But it is exactly that attitude that will change the world for Jesus Christ.
PRAYER
Lord, give me the courage and strength of Paul. There is nothing more valuable than people knowing about God's grace.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
A Willing Heart
SCRIPTURE
"Take up an offering for the Lord among you. Let everyone whose heart is willing bring this as the Lord's offering." (Exodus 35:5)
OBSERVATION
After the Israelites had escaped Egypt God wanted them to construct a place to worship (the Tabernacle). Moses relayed the Lord's command to the people that they were to gather from among themselves the necessary materials to build the tent. People weren't levied a tax, or forced to give. They gave freely, from the heart. In Exodus 35 it is evident the people's hearts were moved.
APPLICATION
God wants me to give, but he wants me to give from the heart. Sometimes I feel like I give out of duty or obligation. Sometimes I don't feel like giving. I understand God wants me to give, but He wants me to give freely from my heart. The times I am not willing, or my heart is not in it, I'm thinking about what I'm giving up or what I'm going to be missing. It's focused on me. However, when I understand all that God has done for me, my heart is full and I can't help but want to give to Him. His goodness moves my heart to give. There is nothing greater than being able to contribute to Kingdom work.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for the ways you've blessed my life. May my giving reflect the generosity of Your heart. Help my focus to be on what you've poured into my life.
"Take up an offering for the Lord among you. Let everyone whose heart is willing bring this as the Lord's offering." (Exodus 35:5)
OBSERVATION
After the Israelites had escaped Egypt God wanted them to construct a place to worship (the Tabernacle). Moses relayed the Lord's command to the people that they were to gather from among themselves the necessary materials to build the tent. People weren't levied a tax, or forced to give. They gave freely, from the heart. In Exodus 35 it is evident the people's hearts were moved.
- Everyone whose heart was moved and whose spirit prompted him can and brought an offering to the Lord to construct the tent of meeting for every use, and to make the holy garments. (35:21)
- Both men and women came; all who had willing hearts brought brooches, earrings, rings, necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry. (35:22)
- And all the women whose hearts were moved spun the goat hair by virtue of their skill. (35:26)
- So the Israelites brought a freewill offering to the Lord, all the men and women whose hearts prompted them to bring something for all the work that the Lord, through Moses, had commanded to be done. (35:29)
APPLICATION
God wants me to give, but he wants me to give from the heart. Sometimes I feel like I give out of duty or obligation. Sometimes I don't feel like giving. I understand God wants me to give, but He wants me to give freely from my heart. The times I am not willing, or my heart is not in it, I'm thinking about what I'm giving up or what I'm going to be missing. It's focused on me. However, when I understand all that God has done for me, my heart is full and I can't help but want to give to Him. His goodness moves my heart to give. There is nothing greater than being able to contribute to Kingdom work.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for the ways you've blessed my life. May my giving reflect the generosity of Your heart. Help my focus to be on what you've poured into my life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)