SCRIPTURE
Moses answered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The Lord did not appear to you'?" Then the Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" (Exodus 4:1-2)
OBSERVATION
Why, it's a staff. God had called Moses to lead the people out of Egypt. Moses was not confident that he could do the job so he started to offer excuses. "I can't speak." "I'm not eloquent." In this passage, his initial objection to the Lord's call was, "What if they don't believe me?" God's response, "What's that in your hand?"
It's an ordinary staff. God told him to throw it on the ground. He did. It turned into a snake. See Moses run. He reached out his hand, picked it up by the tail and it turned back into a staff. God did some amazing things with that stick.
It's as if God heard Moses' objection, looked around and said, "Oh, you've got a stick in your hand. That'll work. I'll turn it into a snake so at least you will believe what I'm capable of." Perhaps, Moses wasn't so concerned about other's lack of belief as he was his own. It was an ordinary staff, yet it became extraordinary because God used it. Although God does some pretty cool stuff (i.e. the burning bush), he used an ordinary staff to show Moses who he really was.
APPLICATION
If I doubt God. If my faith is lacking. If I question what he can do. God asks me, "What is that in your hand?" (ok, sometimes it is the remote). I want to see the burning bush or the sea parted before me. But most often it is the common, ordinary stuff of my life that God uses to reveal himself. When he does, it strengthens my faith so I in turn can show him to the world.
God can show me who he is if I just look around. It's as if he says to me, "See that ordinary sunset. I made that just by speaking it into existence." "See your sometimes ornery son who you love anyway. I love you like that." "You're not the world's greatest, but if you'll let go and let me, I'll show you who I really am."
So the things in my hand, my ordinary gifts, resources, and abilities become more than I could ever imagine when I walk in obedience to God, let go, and give it to him ("throw it on the ground").
PRAYER
I Am. It's all about you and your power displayed in my life. You take my ordinary offerings and make them extraordinary.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Breaking the Rules
SCRIPTURE
Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!" Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?" (Matthew 15:1-3)
OBSERVATION
There are always watchdogs, people who watch for others to break the rules and then dog them about it. Here, the Pharisees and teachers of the law thought they caught the disciples breaking the rule about washing before eating. However, Jesus turned the tables on them by pointing out they were in fact breaking God's command. They were breaking Commandment 5, to honor their father and mother, by devoting money to God so they would not have to use it to support their parents.
The Pharisees probably thought they were defending God's laws when they were merely defending their traditions. Jesus' did not teach that we do not have to obey. He was drawing attention to what we choose to obey: tradition or God's commands. The two are not necessarily the same. We can uphold traditions and break God's command or we can uphold God's commands and break tradition. Jesus would have us do the latter. God's commands always trump tradition.
APPLICATION
I remember the rule, "Don't go swimming for 1/2 hour after you eat." Recently, I've learned that rule has been debunked as a myth. But it illustrates the point Jesus was trying to make. I can base my life on rules that are not necessarily true. More importantly, I can base my life on rules that God did not instigate. Therefore, I need to be careful not to equate my own set of rules (which is a form of legalism) with God's commands. I've got to keep God's commands first and foremost. I can learn a lot about what not to do from the Pharisees, but their tendencies can creep very easily into my life. God is concerned that I know his commands and sift out the laws and tradition of men. They are not bad, they're just not binding.
PRAYER
God, help me to keep the commands you've revealed in your word. There is great freedom when I let go of traditions and live by your truth.
Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!" Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?" (Matthew 15:1-3)
OBSERVATION
There are always watchdogs, people who watch for others to break the rules and then dog them about it. Here, the Pharisees and teachers of the law thought they caught the disciples breaking the rule about washing before eating. However, Jesus turned the tables on them by pointing out they were in fact breaking God's command. They were breaking Commandment 5, to honor their father and mother, by devoting money to God so they would not have to use it to support their parents.
The Pharisees probably thought they were defending God's laws when they were merely defending their traditions. Jesus' did not teach that we do not have to obey. He was drawing attention to what we choose to obey: tradition or God's commands. The two are not necessarily the same. We can uphold traditions and break God's command or we can uphold God's commands and break tradition. Jesus would have us do the latter. God's commands always trump tradition.
APPLICATION
I remember the rule, "Don't go swimming for 1/2 hour after you eat." Recently, I've learned that rule has been debunked as a myth. But it illustrates the point Jesus was trying to make. I can base my life on rules that are not necessarily true. More importantly, I can base my life on rules that God did not instigate. Therefore, I need to be careful not to equate my own set of rules (which is a form of legalism) with God's commands. I've got to keep God's commands first and foremost. I can learn a lot about what not to do from the Pharisees, but their tendencies can creep very easily into my life. God is concerned that I know his commands and sift out the laws and tradition of men. They are not bad, they're just not binding.
PRAYER
God, help me to keep the commands you've revealed in your word. There is great freedom when I let go of traditions and live by your truth.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
No Place to Land
SCRIPTURE
Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." (Matthew 8:20)
OBSERVATION
Jesus' answer was in response to a statement by a teacher of the law, "I will follow you wherever you go." (Matthew 8:19) The teacher was looking for a destination, a place to arrive. Jesus said he had no place to land, "no place to lay his head." He was not saying he did not have a place to sleep, a time to be refreshed, but that he had no permanent place to call home. He was on a mission. That mission did not include stopping to settle down.
When we follow Jesus there is no arriving, at least on this earth. He moves and takes us where we need to be. That's what following him means. We are followers not sitters. Much like the cloud that guided the Israelites in the wilderness, following Jesus means we go where he leads. Viewing spiritual growth as a process (moving on to maturity but never arriving) prevents us from getting comfortable wherever we are. Where we are is not where we are to permanently land.
APPLICATION
I want to end up somewhere. It's much more rewarding to check off the "to-do" lists than have items that are open and in process, to be able to finish a task and move on. It would be nice if spiritual growth was like that. I'm as loving as I need to be. Check. I'm as patient as I need to be. Check. I'm as self-controlled as I need to be. Check. Following Jesus means there's always room to grow and go. Where he leads I need to follow and that doesn't happen by thinking I've arrived somewhere. Since, he has no place to lay his head, I guess that means we're moving on.
PRAYER
Lord, I thank you that you're not finished with me. I want to get comfortable but you call me to follow. You lead the way.
Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." (Matthew 8:20)
OBSERVATION
Jesus' answer was in response to a statement by a teacher of the law, "I will follow you wherever you go." (Matthew 8:19) The teacher was looking for a destination, a place to arrive. Jesus said he had no place to land, "no place to lay his head." He was not saying he did not have a place to sleep, a time to be refreshed, but that he had no permanent place to call home. He was on a mission. That mission did not include stopping to settle down.
When we follow Jesus there is no arriving, at least on this earth. He moves and takes us where we need to be. That's what following him means. We are followers not sitters. Much like the cloud that guided the Israelites in the wilderness, following Jesus means we go where he leads. Viewing spiritual growth as a process (moving on to maturity but never arriving) prevents us from getting comfortable wherever we are. Where we are is not where we are to permanently land.
APPLICATION
I want to end up somewhere. It's much more rewarding to check off the "to-do" lists than have items that are open and in process, to be able to finish a task and move on. It would be nice if spiritual growth was like that. I'm as loving as I need to be. Check. I'm as patient as I need to be. Check. I'm as self-controlled as I need to be. Check. Following Jesus means there's always room to grow and go. Where he leads I need to follow and that doesn't happen by thinking I've arrived somewhere. Since, he has no place to lay his head, I guess that means we're moving on.
PRAYER
Lord, I thank you that you're not finished with me. I want to get comfortable but you call me to follow. You lead the way.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Get Up and Go
SCRIPTURE
After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead." (Matthew 2:19-20)
OBSERVATION
Joseph found himself to be the adoptive father of God's son. Through the miraculous event of the incarnation, God ended up living at his house. It required a lot of moving. In order to protect Jesus from Herod he had to escape the region. He was told to go to Egypt. The instructions to go and to return began with the same command: Get up.
In order to obey God, he couldn't remain where he was. He needed to go. When children come into a family the whole dynamic changes. There are new demands on time and sacrifices to be made. The same is true with Jesus. Joseph's whole life was reoriented by God. His plans were no longer his own. His personal comfort and security took the back seat to the larger plan of God working in his life.
APPLICATION
Jesus can't be just a nice, quaint addition to my life. He reorients my whole life and yes, he will make demands on my life. Most often it is, "get up." It's easy to get comfortable, just rest a little while. If I'm not careful a little while can easily turn into a long while, and a long while can be the place I end up which is not the place I need to be. In order for God to change me I need to get up and go. Don't stay where I am but keep moving ahead. I wish it were more comfortable. But there's really no joy, growth, or maturity in being a La-Z-Boy Christian.
PRAYER
God you continually challenge me to get up and go. I love it that you go with me. You've called me to this great adventure of following Jesus. Stir me up when I get comfortable so that I continually grow to be more like Jesus.
After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead." (Matthew 2:19-20)
OBSERVATION
Joseph found himself to be the adoptive father of God's son. Through the miraculous event of the incarnation, God ended up living at his house. It required a lot of moving. In order to protect Jesus from Herod he had to escape the region. He was told to go to Egypt. The instructions to go and to return began with the same command: Get up.
In order to obey God, he couldn't remain where he was. He needed to go. When children come into a family the whole dynamic changes. There are new demands on time and sacrifices to be made. The same is true with Jesus. Joseph's whole life was reoriented by God. His plans were no longer his own. His personal comfort and security took the back seat to the larger plan of God working in his life.
APPLICATION
Jesus can't be just a nice, quaint addition to my life. He reorients my whole life and yes, he will make demands on my life. Most often it is, "get up." It's easy to get comfortable, just rest a little while. If I'm not careful a little while can easily turn into a long while, and a long while can be the place I end up which is not the place I need to be. In order for God to change me I need to get up and go. Don't stay where I am but keep moving ahead. I wish it were more comfortable. But there's really no joy, growth, or maturity in being a La-Z-Boy Christian.
PRAYER
God you continually challenge me to get up and go. I love it that you go with me. You've called me to this great adventure of following Jesus. Stir me up when I get comfortable so that I continually grow to be more like Jesus.
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