SCRIPTURE
"Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria, and lay sick; so he sent messengers, telling them, 'Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this sickness.'But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, 'Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, 'Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?'" (2 Kings 1:2-3)
OBSERVATION
Ahaziah had fallen and couldn't get up. He sent his messengers to a pagan god to find out whether or not he would recover. The bible makes it clear that pagan gods are no gods at all. They have no capacity to hear, move, or act. Yet, Ahaziah, knowing full well about the God who does hear, move, and act, sends his messengers to Baal.
God is tried and true. However, we tend to look for new and novel approaches to spirituality. Whether it's Oprah's spiritual smorgasbord or improving our self-talk, we tend to run after the gods of this world. Elijah's response to Ahaziah was basically, "Think about what you're doing? There is a God in Israel-the Lord. You don't need to go after Baal."
God did prove himself. Ahaziah sent messengers to Elijah three times. Two out of the three times fire fell from heaven and consumed the captains with there 50 men. You'd think Ahaziah would've caught on the first time. Amaziah did not recover from his injuries eventually dying. You have to wonder how things would've turned out different if he went right to the Lord the first time.
APPLICATION
I think one of the reasons it's tempting to run after other "gods" is because they seem to offer quick fixes and promise to deliver exactly what I want. However, God, the true God, is on his own timetable and he does things in his own way. I have to give up control of my life to seek him. The "gods" with a little "g" can be manipulated and give me the answer I'm looking for. God doesn't kowtow to my preferences. Frankly, I don't like that sometimes. But, that's what growing in faith and trust is all about. There is a God in the land and I need to seek him only.
PRAYER
Lord, you are in the land. I seek your wisdom and your word for direction in my life.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Spiritual Paralysis
SCRIPTURE
"Elijah came near to all the people and said, 'How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.'" (1 Kings 18:21)
OBSERVATION
Sometimes it's hard for Josiah to make a decision. "Do you want peanut butter or ham for lunch?" This question is oftentimes met with an indecisive look and a 3 year old's "Hmm?" After a while of indecisiveness we have to press him for an answer, "What will it be?"
In this passage Elijah challenged King Ahab to gather prophets who were serving the pagan god Baal. They were to meet him at Mount Carmel for a little challenge. If fire came down from heaven and consumed their offering, this would mean that Baal was a true god. However, if fire consumed Elijah's offering, that meant that God was the true God. (By the way, fire did fall on Elijah's offering.)
Elijah was pressing the people to make a choice. Decide who you are going to serve. Indecisiveness about who we worship is like limping through life. We drag our feet because we want the best of both worlds. Not fully committed to God but wanting to do the things we want to do. However, if we confess "Jesus is Lord," that means he claims allegiance and control over every area of our lives. There comes a point when we need to decide...who are we going to serve?
APPLICATION
I can limp through life spiritually by not fully committing to God. I want my way, to fulfill my desires, and can give all kinds of excuses why I can't commit, not at this time, perhaps when it's more convenient. I just need to jump in with both feet. If I believe that God is really who he says he is, he deserves my total allegiance. I'm not doing him any favors by pretending to love him, yet at the same time entertaining the gods of this world. Either he is my Lord or he isn't. He won't settle for anything less than 100%. Wavering causes spiritual paralysis that cripples my walk with God.
PRAYER
Lord, I don't want to limp through life but I commit to you as my God.
"Elijah came near to all the people and said, 'How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.'" (1 Kings 18:21)
OBSERVATION
Sometimes it's hard for Josiah to make a decision. "Do you want peanut butter or ham for lunch?" This question is oftentimes met with an indecisive look and a 3 year old's "Hmm?" After a while of indecisiveness we have to press him for an answer, "What will it be?"
In this passage Elijah challenged King Ahab to gather prophets who were serving the pagan god Baal. They were to meet him at Mount Carmel for a little challenge. If fire came down from heaven and consumed their offering, this would mean that Baal was a true god. However, if fire consumed Elijah's offering, that meant that God was the true God. (By the way, fire did fall on Elijah's offering.)
Elijah was pressing the people to make a choice. Decide who you are going to serve. Indecisiveness about who we worship is like limping through life. We drag our feet because we want the best of both worlds. Not fully committed to God but wanting to do the things we want to do. However, if we confess "Jesus is Lord," that means he claims allegiance and control over every area of our lives. There comes a point when we need to decide...who are we going to serve?
APPLICATION
I can limp through life spiritually by not fully committing to God. I want my way, to fulfill my desires, and can give all kinds of excuses why I can't commit, not at this time, perhaps when it's more convenient. I just need to jump in with both feet. If I believe that God is really who he says he is, he deserves my total allegiance. I'm not doing him any favors by pretending to love him, yet at the same time entertaining the gods of this world. Either he is my Lord or he isn't. He won't settle for anything less than 100%. Wavering causes spiritual paralysis that cripples my walk with God.
PRAYER
Lord, I don't want to limp through life but I commit to you as my God.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Suit Up & Stand
SCRIPTURE
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor or God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil...Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." (Ephesians 6:10-11,13)
OBSERVATION
We do not have to lose ground in the battle. With the armor God has provided we can stand firm. We can feel alone, or ill-equipped at times, but God has given us everything we need. Twice in this passage Paul reminds us to put on the whole armor of God. It's not about bits and pieces, but to be fully dressed and prepared. We don't fight with our own strength, which would give out rather quickly, but in the strength of God's might.
The cool part of the battle is this...once we are suited up we just need to stand, firm. We don't have to run, either away from or after the devil. James reminds us that if we resist, he will do the running (James 4:7). It's tiring to run but strength comes from God as we stand. He has given us what we need to stand. He wants us to succeed and wants us to be victorious. That happens when we do all, suiting up, so that with the full armor of God and his strength we can stand even in the evil day.
APPLICATION
I tend to put on bits and pieces of the armor. I wear the belt of truth, but because of my sinful inclinations do not wear the breastplate of righteousness. Or, I will have the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, in my life but not share my faith, forgetting the shoes, the readiness given by the gospel of peace. I'm not praying at all times, but I'm wearing the helmet of salvation. Because I'm partially dressed my strength is sapped and I'm not prepared. God wants me to do all by wearing the full armor.
I wouldn't go out of the house partially dressed (OK, maybe to grab the paper but not to grab lunch). How much more should I never enter the battle without the full armor of God, doing everything he asks so I can stand firm. God has supplied. I need to suit up and stand, taking advantage of the resources he has given me.
PRAYER
Lord, I need your strength for the battle. Thank you that you have given me everything I need to stand firm.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor or God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil...Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." (Ephesians 6:10-11,13)
OBSERVATION
We do not have to lose ground in the battle. With the armor God has provided we can stand firm. We can feel alone, or ill-equipped at times, but God has given us everything we need. Twice in this passage Paul reminds us to put on the whole armor of God. It's not about bits and pieces, but to be fully dressed and prepared. We don't fight with our own strength, which would give out rather quickly, but in the strength of God's might.
The cool part of the battle is this...once we are suited up we just need to stand, firm. We don't have to run, either away from or after the devil. James reminds us that if we resist, he will do the running (James 4:7). It's tiring to run but strength comes from God as we stand. He has given us what we need to stand. He wants us to succeed and wants us to be victorious. That happens when we do all, suiting up, so that with the full armor of God and his strength we can stand even in the evil day.
APPLICATION
I tend to put on bits and pieces of the armor. I wear the belt of truth, but because of my sinful inclinations do not wear the breastplate of righteousness. Or, I will have the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, in my life but not share my faith, forgetting the shoes, the readiness given by the gospel of peace. I'm not praying at all times, but I'm wearing the helmet of salvation. Because I'm partially dressed my strength is sapped and I'm not prepared. God wants me to do all by wearing the full armor.
I wouldn't go out of the house partially dressed (OK, maybe to grab the paper but not to grab lunch). How much more should I never enter the battle without the full armor of God, doing everything he asks so I can stand firm. God has supplied. I need to suit up and stand, taking advantage of the resources he has given me.
PRAYER
Lord, I need your strength for the battle. Thank you that you have given me everything I need to stand firm.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Do No Harm
SCRIPTURE
"Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law...Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.'" (Romans 13:8-10)
OBSERVATION
The only debt we should have outstanding is the debt to love one another. The bible talks about another kind of indebtedness--unforgiveness. When we have offended someone we are indebted to them. When someone has offended us they are indebted to us. In order to release the debt, we offer forgiveness. Here Paul is reminding us to keep our accounts current. The only allowable debt is the one that we owe each other to fulfill the law...love. Love always seeks the best for the other person. It does no wrong to a neighbor. Jesus' example shows us what love involves...sacrifice. It's not about the feeling we receive, that would make it focused on us. But it is about the other person, making it a debt we owe to them. It always seeks to do the best thing for the other person no matter how hard that may be.
APPLICATION
I really need to develop that kind of love. Instead of trying to think of every way that I can be more loving, this verse simply states it in the negative: do no harm. I need to run everything through this filter. Is this word or action going to do wrong or will it benefit the other person? I need to cancel the debt of unforgiveness by forgiving, but the debt to love others is one that I will never payoff. It is to be the habit of my heart.
PRAYER
Lord, you showed me what love looks like in Jesus. I want to more fully develop that sacrificial kind of love by doing no harm to the people around me.
"Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law...Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.'" (Romans 13:8-10)
OBSERVATION
The only debt we should have outstanding is the debt to love one another. The bible talks about another kind of indebtedness--unforgiveness. When we have offended someone we are indebted to them. When someone has offended us they are indebted to us. In order to release the debt, we offer forgiveness. Here Paul is reminding us to keep our accounts current. The only allowable debt is the one that we owe each other to fulfill the law...love. Love always seeks the best for the other person. It does no wrong to a neighbor. Jesus' example shows us what love involves...sacrifice. It's not about the feeling we receive, that would make it focused on us. But it is about the other person, making it a debt we owe to them. It always seeks to do the best thing for the other person no matter how hard that may be.
APPLICATION
I really need to develop that kind of love. Instead of trying to think of every way that I can be more loving, this verse simply states it in the negative: do no harm. I need to run everything through this filter. Is this word or action going to do wrong or will it benefit the other person? I need to cancel the debt of unforgiveness by forgiving, but the debt to love others is one that I will never payoff. It is to be the habit of my heart.
PRAYER
Lord, you showed me what love looks like in Jesus. I want to more fully develop that sacrificial kind of love by doing no harm to the people around me.
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