May 13, 2010- I Should Be Committed

Scripture to read today:
2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21; Psalm 30; 1 Thessalonians 2

Scripture that spoke to me:
2 Samuel 24:21-24
Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?”
“To buy your threshing floor,” David answered, “so I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague on the people may be stopped.”

Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. O king, Araunah gives all this to the king.” Araunah also said to him, “May the LORD your God accept you.”
But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

Observation:
David wants to purchase a place to build an altar and make sacrifices to the Lord. This is the place where he saw an angel that was sent to bring a plague on Israel caused by David’s actions. David wants this to cost him something so he can truly sacrifice to the Lord.

Application:
If we are committed to something, it means that we put that first no matter how we feel. It is easy to be committed to something when it is fun- or when we are happy with it- or getting something from it. I tried to teach this to Savannah last week when she didn’t want to go to ball practice. It was hot and she was tired from a long week. But she made a commitment to the team, and that didn’t mean only showing up when she felt like it. It means being there no matter what. That’s the way we should be in our committed relationships with each other and with our Lord.

Prayer:
Lord, it is hard to be committed to something when it costs us something. Help us see the wonderful joys that come from keeping our commitments. Amen.

February 13, 2010- It is Better to Give than to Receive

Scripture to read today:
Leviticus 20; Leviticus 21; Leviticus 22; Acts 20

Scripture that spoke to me:
Acts 20:35
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ “

Observation:
Paul really got it. The message of servanthood that Jesus brought to light is carried on in everything Paul did.

Application:
It is in giving that we receive. I’ve seen that on the mission trips I’ve been on and also in the things we do to help people locally. I almost feel guilty because I know, in helping someone, I’m going to get something great in return. I can’t explain it only to know that, in helping someone, you get to experience just a little of what Jesus and Paul, and other great people throughout history, have done before us.

Prayer:
Lord, help more people see that giving is better than getting. Because if we all give, then we all will receive, and this is truly the message that Jesus came to give us. Amen.

January 16, 2010- Upside Down Thinking

Scripture to read today:
Genesis 39; Genesis 40; Genesis 41; Luke 16

Scripture that spoke to me:
Luke 16:8
“The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.

Observation:
Living like God wants and living like the world tells you to are opposite ways of thinking. The world asks that you be shrewd, manipulative, and do whatever you have to in order to succeed; God tells you to love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you, and give someone in need the shirt off your back.

Application:
We have been talking in children’s worship about living in an upside-down world. The world seems to praise dishonesty and craftiness; doesn’t promote forgiveness; honors those who are smart enough to find a way around the law, and encourages self-promotion. God asks us to be selfless, giving and loving to others who are different than we are. I want to live in God’s world, as a child of the light.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to keep the temptations of the world at bay. I know it isn’t all about me as the center of the world, but of You as Creator of all. Amen.

12 Days of Grace- Day 8- Christian Action

Luke 10: 29-37 is the story of the Good Samaritan. This is a great example of Christian Action, representing Christ with love and compassion. It bears witness to Christ and brings Christ to the world. We are ambassadors for Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:18-20 – All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.)

In John 14:6, Jesus says “I am the Way (piety), the Truth (study), and the Light (action).”

Christian Action is a natural response to God’s grace. It enlightens, unbinds, frees us through God’s grace. Paul said the fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, self-control, kindness, generosity, and faithfulness. These fruits are gifts of God’s grace given to us all.

Christian Action calls for a plan. We want to help but often don’t know how.
- make a plan based on your real situation and resources. Do what God calls you to do, not what others expect of you.
- work your plan and trust God to support you. (Matthew 10:20-for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.) The Spirit of the Father leads your words.
- Keep your perspective. Do not neglect your job, family, or church; likewise your everyday life cannot overtake your Christian action. You need a balance. (And remember, each action a Christian takes is a Christian’s action.)
- Do not try to do Christian actions alone. Use resources from your local church, missions, etc. This also aids others in their Christian actions.
- Christian action must be authentic. It flows from your care for others. It is not a need to be needed or a preconceived notion. (No Holy rollers!)
- consider areas of Christian action in your life- individual, groups, clubs, etc.

Friendship is the style for offering Christ to others. (2 Corinthians 5:18- All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the task of reaching out to others.)
- start by making a friend
- be their friend- make yourself available, share your life, etc.
- Introduce your friend to Jesus Christ (and this is important- you must first have witnessed to Christ by your actions!)

Respond to a need- seek to change the situation that caused the need.

Make service a regular part of your life. Christian action involved commitment and selflessness.

November 24, 2009- Sold Out?

Scripture to read today:

Matthew 17; Matthew 18; Matthew 19

Scripture that spoke to me:
Matthew 19:16-21
Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”

“Which ones?” the man inquired.

Jesus replied, ” ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.”

“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Observation:
The man wasn’t going to be perfect by keeping the commandments. Perfection came when he let go of the things he loved the most in the world and followed Jesus.

Application:
What is it that I put between me and Jesus? My house? Job, kids, car… church? Am I sold out to Jesus- would I sell out and follow Him? I don’t know- I’d like to think I would, but I really don’t know.

Prayer:
Lord, sometimes I’m not the person I wish I am. Forgive me for the times I am not what you had in mind for me to be. Help me become all that you wish. Amen.

September 14, 2009- Love with Service

Scripture to read today:

Ezekiel 36; Ezekiel 37; Psalm 110; Revelation 19

Scripture that spoke to me:
Ezekiel 36:9
See, I care about you, and I will pay attention to you. Your ground will be plowed and your crops planted.

Application:
The Lord is promising to bring the children of Israel home. He isn’t banishing them forever. They will be a prosperous people again. The Lord cares for His people.

Observation:
If you care for someone, you pay attention to them. You help them when they are in trouble. That is why love and service go hand in hand- why James says that faith without deeds is dead. Because loving means wanting to make life better for someone else. It means paying attention to them and to their needs.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, help me to love more people. Help us all to love each other and put hands to that love. I imagine a world where our goal is to help each other. What a wonderful world that would be, full of the love You have for us. Help me to do my part. Amen.

August 5, 2009- Becoming Famous

Scripture to read today:

2 Kings 23; 2 Chronicles 35; John 7

Scripture that spoke to me:
John 7:4
You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!”

Observation:
Jesus’ brothers are trying to convince him to go to the festival and show what he can do. Their thinking is, if he can do such miraculous things, he should do them and become famous. Jesus’ answer, of course, is that his time has not yet come. He wasn’t there to put on a show, or be famous, but to tell the world of God’s goodness.

Application:
We’d opt for the show. I’m pretty sure that if I could do just one of the miracles Jesus did, I’d want to show off. I’d want people to see what I could do. The difference is, Jesus was showing what God could do- not he himself. I struggle with that- I give God the credit sometimes, but I like the accolades from people who tell me I do a good job.

Prayer:
Forgive me Lord for wanting the praises when they should all be Yours. Amen.

August 3, 2009- Not to Please Me

Scripture to read today:
Nahum 1-3; John 5

Scripture that spoke to me:
John 5: 30
By myself I can do nothing. I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

Observation:
This is Jesus speaking on his own return and the judgment that will come. God has given Jesus the authority to judge because he is the Son of Man, and he will judge righteously.

Application:
How right we would all judge if we were judging to please God and not ourselves! I know I tend to judge people based on earthly standards. In many cases, I cannot see people’s hearts to judge them on a heavenly basis. But that is not my place. It has to be left to the One who CAN see their hearts. I also have to remember that He is judging my heart, too.

Prayer:
Lord forgive me when I rate people by earthly standards. Help me to remember that we are all One in You. Amen.

June 21, 2009- Mark of a Minister (And a Father- Happy Father’s Day!)

Scripture to read today:

2 Kings 6; 2 Kings 7; 2 Chronicles 20; 1 Timothy 3

Scripture that spoke to me:
1 Timothy 3:2-7
Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect.(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

Observation:
This is Paul’s description of what a preacher should be. Someone who has managed his own life well, so that the church may be managed well, too.

Application:
I work with two preachers and also know the three at my church very well. I think they all fit this description. Not that they never make a mistake, or have flaws, but that their inner being, their character, is that of someone that people can look up to. I think of Scott, who is on track to be a minister, and see how he fits this description. I also see how God uses these fallible people to teach others about Him.

Prayer:
Lord, I pray for our ministers- that their lives are not only an example, but their hearts are, too. Be with them and their families as they set about to do Your work. Amen.

June 1, 2009- Love Hurts

Scripture to read today:

Proverbs 19; Proverbs 20; Proverbs 21; Romans 13

Scripture that spoke to me:
Romans 13:9-10
The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Observation:
Love does no harm… I like the thought of that. According to Paul, love is patient and kind. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs. Jesus summed it all up in one word- love.

Application:
I think sometimes we confuse love with desire. But desire is self-serving. Desire doesn’t take into account what others may want. Love puts everything on the other person- I’ll try to explain what I mean. If I love you, I want what is best for you. That may mean I have to suffer, or give up something I want, but if I truly love you, I will want to see you succeed and be willing to sacrifice.  A good example of this is watching Brandon plan for college. There’s nothing I’d like better than for him to live here forever, and Savannah is really going to miss him, too. But I know the best thing, for him, is to get out there and get his education. I love him enough to let him go.

Prayer:
Lord, help heal my heart from this selfless love. Where I need to love another by letting go, let there be joy to fill that empty space. Amen.