The One Year Bible - A Journey I Am On

Repetition

2012-02-15T07:17:00.002-06:00

On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, leader of the tribe of Naphtali, presented his offering. His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3-1⁄4 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1-3⁄4 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil. He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense. He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, and a male goat for a sin offering. For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Ahira son of Enan. [Exodus 7.78-83]

While there is no uncertain tedious repetition of the offerings brought by the leaders of each of the twelve tribes of Israel, there is also a completeness about it as well. Throughout the Bible, repetition always represents assurance. It would seem important therefore to be mindful that these offerings are significant - if not for the value of each one but perhaps for the repetition of it.

One thing is certain: they were not each doing "his own thing"! But instead, each tribe stayed true to protocol.

Maybe Christ followers today could learn from this.

Or, perhaps since Jesus removed the veil that separated man and God, we are supposed to "do our own thing." Maybe?

Father, help me to ascertain the significance of each tribe bringing exactly the same offerings to You. Help me to know if there is something for the NT Church to learn from it.

Awe-Inspiring

2012-02-14T08:17:00.002-06:00

One thing is for sure, the Tabernacle was, in perspective, a small thing relative to how many Israelites there were with Moses in the wilderness.

It must have been an awe-inspiring sight to see the Israelites in their mobile state. I know I struggle to get my head around the idea of the population of people on this journey.

The Tabernacle, again, was just a small tent in the midst of the people. However, the importance and goings-on at the Tabernacle were paramount. It was to be the place where God and man (however a limited few) intersected. The direction of the Israelites' journey and the duration of their stay were both determined at this small place. The general overall health of the Israelites' relationship with God was maintained and therefore evident at this central nucleus within their camp. God had chosen to dwell there.

But not so today. God desires to dwell directly within those who are His own. No longer is He limited to a small central physical corporate place. Instead, God has chosen to live at the nucleus of man - inside the willing man at the core of his existence. The events of Jesus' advent to earth secured this possibility. His all-encompassing sacrifice satisfied for all time the ritual and protocol established around the Tabernacle in order for one to fellowship with God. This benefit, although free, can only be obtained by faith. It is a spiritual thing - very personal - yet with great corporate evidence. This too is quite awe-inspiring.

Father, I am grateful for Jesus. Help me today to be sure of the faith You have given me to partake of the benefit of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.

Numbers

2012-02-13T08:05:00.000-06:00

It is probably of no great significance spiritually, but, the gold and silver used in constructing the mobile Tabernacle was worth around $64.5 million USD (at today's gold and silver prices).
What's even more intriguing to consider is that this wealth was held by a people just coming out of slavery!

However, it is fair to divvy this wealth among the number of males (600,000) yielding a mere $107.50 per man. So, considering the number of people present, the wealth was almost nominal.

I have no idea what value these numbers carry...

Father, give me a heart to understand what I have pondered today...

Amazing

2012-02-12T09:04:00.001-06:00

The real amazing thing about all the detail and design of the Tabernacle is that this was all accomplished by what, at the time, was transient, nomadic people. They were not people living in houses but instead people living in tents and on the move. And it serves well here to be reminded that this was no small group of people but rather a very large group of at least 1,000,000 individuals.

Amazing.

Father, help me to see You through the story of Israel's time of wandering. Help me to learn likewise about myself.

The Offering God Requires

2012-02-11T07:37:00.000-06:00

...“No one may appear before me [God] without an offering. [Exodus 34.20b]

How quickly we approach God in prayer at times without as much as a "hello" much less an offering of any kind.

What kind of offering does God require?

What kind of offering DOES God require?

While it is a fact that prior to Jesus' advent much was required to come before God (ref. "Details..." prior day's discussions), it is now a fact that much more can be given subsequent to Jesus' time on earth.

Before Christ, much sacrifice and self-abasement was necessary to approach Almighty God. This was because God Himself declared that without blood, sin was unforgiven. Every offering brought to God cost someone something. The shortcoming of this system was that no offering brought before God even remotely displaced the sinfulness for which it was meant to pay for. At best, it was never enough.

When New Testament believers approach God in the Name of Jesus, there is a different situation. Jesus, Who was entirely perfect, gave all - and gave all on behalf of any and everyone who would but confess faith in His feat. So, although one may approach God emptyhanded, if his or her faith and offering to God is the perfect gift of confession in Christ, then God is more than just appeased - He is completely satisfied that redemption is complete and we are complete and secure in Him.

I have said a lot here... I think I need to stop and think about this myself!

Father, because of Christ I approach You. Be glorified with this offering that Christ is in me and I come to You offering Him (in the form of my life) back to You.

Details Require Effort

2012-02-10T07:52:00.001-06:00

The details continue!

Understanding that neither am I a Jew nor do I consider myself part of the old covenant made by God with the Jews, I still consider myself part of this through the redemptive and inclusive work of Jesus Christ.

So, what lessons are there for me to learn from reading about all the details of old covenant sacrifices and protocol?

Perhaps it is about effort. The details outlined in Exodus require a lot of effort. A relationship with anyone (let alone God) requires effort. Whether it is daily sacrifices and protocol or it is a simply phone call or visit - effort is mandatory for true relationship to thrive and grow.

Wow, I didn't see that coming!

Father, what I have written here thunders Your voice in my own hearing...

Details

2012-02-09T09:17:00.000-06:00

Is "the devil in the details" or is God in the details?

We've grown accustomed to the saying above about the devil being in the details. People today have, for the most part, abandoned details. This is particularly true in regards to the Bible.

If nothing else is clear in today's OYCB reading, it is that the details matter.

How did the advent of Christ however affect the details?

Father, I find myself weary of the details.

The Law - Structure and Direction

2012-02-07T05:52:00.001-06:00

It never ceases to amaze me how we pick and choose what rules are good and what are not. Regardless of the blessed fact of redemption in Christ, the commandments given by God offer structure and direction for all lawfulness. Uhh... until it comes to slavery. Surely God must have been mistaken in even addressing slavery without condemning it altogether! Ahh, but society knows better. We have developed social and economic programs whereby slavery is no longer necessary. Of course it does not matter whether or not our programs work! (reader, make certain that the slavery discussed in Exodus is associated in no way with race - it is purely a social and economic reality)

Father, once again today I see the futility of our own thinking...

Just a Stick?

2012-02-06T08:10:00.002-06:00

So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle. [Exodus 17.10-13]

Would it not have worked as well for Aaron and Hur to simply takes turns holding the staff themselves and let Moses take a break?

Of course it would have... IF... the staff contained the power. But that was not the case. The staff was merely a stick outside of Moses' hands. But in Moses' hands, the staff represented the anointing and power of God.

The next question is, was Moses powerful and anointed without the staff?

Father, help me to understand the significance of the things I read in the Bible. Help me to see Your story in every story and circumstance chronicled within its pages.

"Not Credible"

2012-02-05T09:33:00.001-06:00

Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the LORD opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side! [Exodus 14.21-22]
In just a moment of pondering, I find this account quite incredible - as in "not credible". I've tried to consider how this could have taken place by natural means, but there is no expalanation. If the parting of the Red Sea was all the result of a fierce east wind, that would at least start to make some sense... But then I find a real problem understanding how people could have walked (not to mention stood up) in the velocity of wind it would have required to part the waters.
So, once again in my journey of life and faith, I find myself at a crossroads of decision: Do I require a natural explanation of everything, or do I simply (and against natural understanding) believe?
Father, You know my heart and my head. Like Thomas of Jesus' men, I find myself needing some proof. Help me though to be like those who believed without seeing.

Social Miracle

2012-02-04T08:57:00.002-06:00

It is hard to imagine 600,000+ people doing anything in unison! But 600,000 was only the head count of males - it is not unreasonable to think there were at least than many women and certainly even more children! So, in the land of Goshen in Egypt, there were likely at least 1,000,000+ Jews who not only celebrated the first Passover, but also mobilized for exodus from Egypt. Incredible!

Since there were no "Evening News", telephones, or Internet social media, the task of simply notifying every Israelite family was surely daunting. And yet, it happened. After the many signs and wonders performed to convince Pharaoh to let Israel go, certainly this social phenomenon is no less a miracle.

Father, I believe there is something "social" about the Jewish people that we are certainly unaware of today.

What? Kill Moses?

2012-02-02T06:50:00.000-06:00

On the way to Egypt, at a place where Moses and his family had stopped for the night, the LORD confronted him and was about to kill him. But Moses’ wife, Zipporah, took a flint knife and circumcised her son. She touched his feet with the foreskin and said, “Now you are a bridegroom of blood to me.” (When she said “a bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.) After that, the LORD left him alone. [Exodus 4.24-26]

Sometimes the details can be so confusing! Why was God going to kill His chosen man Moses?

I suppose if anyone could figure God out, then we would have no need for God.

And the whole circumcision thing is totally strange. Why not cut off a lobe of the ear or something? More clearly, why would the identifying "mark" of God's people require that one's penis be examined? Didn't Noah's son Ham get in trouble for seeing his father's penis? Circumcision, in all its importance, sure requires a lot of penis gazing!

Father, my mind races with practical questions today. Help me to listen to you and not my own head!

What's The Deal?

2012-01-31T08:41:00.001-06:00

Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind: “Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. “Will you discredit my justice and condemn me just to prove you are right? [Job 40.6-8]

It appears from God's accusation here that Job had indeed discredited God's justice and condemned Him. Why else would God confront Job in this way?

But then...

After the LORD had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has. [Job 42.7]

Uh, hello. I cannot understand how God can confront Job about discrediting Himself and then scold Job's friends using Job as an example of having spoken accurately!

What's the deal?

Father, I have a concern about what has been recorded in the book of Job. It says You both scolded Job for his false accusations against You and praised Job for accurately speaking about You. Is my concern legitimate or have I missed the entire point?

Time and Space

2012-01-30T07:56:00.001-06:00

Question:

Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth? [Job 38.33]

Answer:

Some of them. And no.

Knowledge is a funny thing. It is easy to look at the knowledge of Job and deduce that we today have superior knowledge in comparison. Certainly Job had acquired knowledge above and beyond his peers. However, Job's vast knowledge pales in comparison to what is known today.

Perhaps more important to recognize though is that with what we consider extensive knowledge today, we still cannot definitively say that we know all the laws of the universe. We still cannot comprehend space. We still cannot comprehend infinity. Everything we know is bound to time and space.

But God is not bound to time and space. This characteristic alone makes Him omniscient. If He is indeed not bound to time and space, then He dwells in the very realm of all knowledge. This actually makes sense.

I realize there are some amazing scientists on the earth today. I realize their knowledge is indeed truly amazing. I am aware that in their knowledge they have decided that God does not exist. But how do they know? How can anyone definitively say God is not real? Does it not trouble the mind as well as the soul so much that as we consider time and space we simply must concede that we do not know all that is to be known? Do not the realms of time and space and their infinite limitless not prove that?

God says He knows all.

Can we trust Him?

Father, I trust You.

Can You Do That?

2012-01-29T09:28:00.000-06:00

“Pay attention to this, Job. Stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God! Do you know how God controls the storm and causes the lightning to flash from his clouds? Do you understand how he moves the clouds with wonderful perfection and skill? When you are sweltering in your clothes and the south wind dies down and everything is still, he makes the skies reflect the heat like a bronze mirror. Can you do that? [Job 37.14-18]

Elihu uses the weather as an example to indicate that God is in control. Meteorology was, if in existence at all, only in infancy in Job's day. At first, it appears Elihu is saying that knowledge would enable one to control the weather.

We today can somewhat disprove Elihu's ignorance about weather. We have far greater understanding of what drives the weather. We have the knowledge today that the sun's heat plays the leading role in warming masses of air that in turn develop into weather patterns that may be monitored and even predicted.

However, Elihu's wisdom carries over still into modern times. His question to Job, regardless of the abundance or lack of knowledge, remains untouchable by all today: "Can you do that?"

No.

Father, with all the knowledge we have, we still cannot control the weather.

Outsider Perspective

2012-01-28T06:49:00.001-06:00

In yesterday's OYCB reading, Job's words spoken against his 'friends' are harsh! One would question how Job could speak such damning words against true friends!

Then, in today's reading, a young man speaks. Elihu accuses Job of being arrogant. He also accuses Job's three friends of incompetence in their confrontation of Job. But frankly, I don't see that Elihu said anything much different than the three friends... How ws this 'outsider' perspective any different than the others?

Hmmm...

Father, I am anxious to see what Your words to Job will be...

Quite The Guy

2012-01-26T07:23:00.002-06:00

I guess Job was quite the guy. At least that is certainly what he thought of himself. Admittedly, I don't sense an overt attitude of pride in Job's declaration of his own goodness, but I cannot say I sense a real humble spirit either.

I think Job was right on however in the first part of Job 26 when he chastised Bildad for his words and actions not of love and compassion, but of judgment.

Once again today, it would seem this story could have had a much better outcome if Job's friends had been less concerned with "fixing Job" and more concerned with praying for God's mercy upon him and offering every emotional and physical comfort they could.

Father, again today I find myself faced with my own tendency to want to "fix" others more than being compassionate. Please help me.

Shut Up And Pray

2012-01-25T07:55:00.002-06:00

It occurred to me today that perhaps both Job and his friends simply needed to shut up and pray. What would the reader's understanding of Job be like if he ignored everything Job and his friends actually said and instead hung closely upon the narrator's perspective and certainly upon God's recorded statements?

Is there a futility in many words? Would the story of Job have been different if both Job and his friends had set their minds and hearts to pray about Job's situation instead of verbally challenging one another?

Even as a reader myself, I find the volley of words between Job and his friends to be effectively tiring. Every day I read the book of Job I inadvertently wish the story were over and I could get to the end. Their arguments are confusing - even dizzying - and yet they are not on record of having done much praying.

Father, let me not b found guilty of much speaking about problems in my life and the lives of others. On the contrary help me to be quick to pray!

Pure Faith

2012-01-24T08:00:00.001-06:00

But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought! [Job 19.25-27]

In trying to figure who is actually saying what in the story of Job, this passage above stands out. This statement by Job, regardless of the theological 'accuracy' of anything else he said, is profound.

Job could not figure it out either but he boldly declared his faith in God and specifically in his Redeemer (mind you, after many negative things were said).

Father, if there is anything I wish to take from today's OYCB reading, it is Job's faith. Yes he makes some statements that may or may not be altogether correct. But in this moment of clarity, Job resorts to pure faith.

Insult To Injury

2012-01-23T07:34:00.001-06:00

Could it be that the lesson to be learned from Job and his friends is that we should patiently grieve with one another in hard times without effort to troubleshoot the situation?

Were Job's friends genuinely concerned and wanting to help Job figure out what went wrong? Or were they adding insult to ingury?

How could the outcome of Job's story been different if his friends had simply and silently grieved alongside him without offering their solutions? Is it possible Job would have perhaps said a little less himself?

Father, help me to understand the necessity of comforting those who suffer. Help me to comprehend the real necessity in the midst of such situations - whether it is to offer solutions, or simply offer comfort.

Philosophy

2012-01-22T06:41:00.000-06:00

It seems today that Job and his friends are a bit into philosophy. They speak of God as if they know, but in fact, they really don't. However, it seems they have some accuracy in their individual assessments of God and Job's situation... But then again, it seems they have no clue.

As I read the book of Job this time around, I see more of myself in all the characters than ever before. I see all the "facts" presented by each person about God - while each one is correct, he is also incorrect. Each has his own argument and each has his own misconception. I see how I make statements about God which, although true to me, are seen as wrong in the eyes of others.

Could it be that the book of Job has a greater meaning that just Job's situation? Could the story (and Job's situation) be for our benefit to see ourselves and our own futile attempts at explaining God?

Father, please open my eyes to at least see what You wish to reveal to me each and every day I live. Help me to receive truth that can only ever from You.

Was Job Perfect?

2012-01-20T07:55:00.000-06:00

I guess the real question is: Was Job indeed a thoroughly perfect and therefore sinless individual?

One should perhaps be careful before answering too quickly because the implications of the anwer are huge.

If Job was indeed a sinless man, then "The Fall" in the Garden of Eden meant nothing. If Job was sinless, then sinlessness is indeed humanly attainable. If this perfection is humanly attainable, then the need for a Messiah is, at very least, lessened.

On the other hand, God said, "He [Job] is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil..." [Job 1.8b] Why would God say that? Why then would God punish Job (by allowing Satan to attack him)?

Again, before we declare God's "sovereignty" in this matter, we must remain mindful that the whole legal deal about God punishing sinless Jesus was to redeem mankind from the fallout of Adam's sin. If Job was sinless but suffered unjustly, then mankind's redemption should have come through Job!

Father, I really don't get this. Was Job perfect or not?

Perspective On Job

2012-01-19T06:38:00.000-06:00

Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!” In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God. [Job 1.20-22]

At last Job spoke, and he cursed the day of his birth. [Job 3.1]

There is quite a difference in Job's two discourses from the first chapter of Job to the third chapter. As far as I can recall, the Job 1 account of Job's blamelessness is the last reference to such character in Job. Was Satan right then? Was God's knowledge of Job's character incomplete? Was God's "blameless" man only blameless because he had not experienced all the potential of Almighty God to subject him to trials unimaginable in effort to differentiate between good and evil?

I find it very interesting that Job chapter 1 documents Job having said "the Lord gives and takes away" but also says Job "did not sin by blaming God." HELLO! Job DID attribute his trouble to God! Is the writer of Job conflicted, or is he telling us that Job's "blaming God" was in fact not a sinful action?

On a similar thought, how could it be that Satan did the dirty work and God took the credit for it?

Father, as I try to gain perspective on the story of Job, help me to remain focused on the roles outlined by this narrative.

No Idea

2012-01-18T09:07:00.000-06:00

“Now I [Jacob speaking to his son Joseph] am claiming as my own sons these two boys of yours, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born here in the land of Egypt before I arrived. They will be my sons, just as Reuben and Simeon are. But any children born to you in the future will be your own, and they will inherit land within the territories of their brothers Ephraim and Manasseh. [Genesis 48.5-6]

I have no idea what this is about. But it must mean something!

Normally "blessings" such as Jacob spoke over the two sons of Joseph were for direct offspring - not grandchildren.

Why did Jacob see the necessity of blessing Joseph's boys? Why also did Jacob see the need to place the elder below the younger? What was the significance of all this?

Father, please open my dull eyes to see and understand what should be obvious to me.

Benefit-Based Tax

2012-01-17T08:11:00.001-06:00

“You have saved our lives!” they exclaimed. “May it please you, my lord, to let us be Pharaoh’s servants.” Joseph then issued a decree still in effect in the land of Egypt, that Pharaoh should receive one-fifth of all the crops grown on his land. Only the land belonging to the priests was not given to Pharaoh. [Genesis 47.25-26]

It is interesting that we find here perhaps an ancient record of taxation. What is most interesting is that it appears it was a benefit-based tax. Fields sold to Pharoah were given back with the stipulation that 20% of ongoing crops would belong to Pharoah. We have no record that this was a problem for the people - on the contrary, it would seem they were grateful.

I always find it intriguing to consider ancient practices in modern times. What if today, every person living in the USA were evaluated for the benefit they receive from their country and then taxed accordingly?

It would be obvious that each and every person would need to pay to cover the daily benefits - roads, local government (including personnel and equipment), etc. That would make sense perhaps as a flat tax, but would require regional assessment as a road in New York City costs more to build and maintain than a road in rural Oklahoma. Likewise NYC requires a much more elaborate police department than a rural area.

Therefore, if taxation is based upon benefit, city dwellers might potentially pay higher taxes than rural citizens.

Another assessment of taxation could be found in the government's burden to provide disaster aid. If a person chooses to live in a disaster prone area (coastal region, earthquake-riddled area, flood zone), then taxes should be imposed to cover aid resultant to an emergency.

So far it would seem the "person" would not need to be taxed as much as their "address" would need to be taxed. Likewise, automobiles could be taxed to cover roads in all fairness to those who do not own a vehicle (payment to public transportation would cover use fees as the public transportation cost would include that particular vehicle's tax).

Schools present a unique challenge however. The idea of "community" plays a great role in this. While at first it would make sense to simply tax each family for the number of children attending school, it is also to the greater benefit of the society for its children to be educated - so the burden of education presents a challenge. Whose responsibility is it really? Certainly worth considering is the fact that just because education is provided does not mean it is taken advantage of. Perhaps education would be taken more seriously if indeed it came at a higher cost to those who attained it. Perhaps a stipulation accordingly would more effectively engage parents in children's education! Or, perhaps education should be privatized altogether? That would indeed be a game changer!

I could go on and on...

Father, help me - help society - to learn from wisdom. I am not so much pointing to "the Bible" but more to the story of Joseph's insight and wisdom contained in the Bible. There are many such wisdom-rich stories found in Your Story. Thank You!

A Wise Move

2012-01-16T07:39:00.000-06:00

For probably the first time in my life, I did not see Joseph as "toying" with his brothers when they came before him to buy food. Instead of seeing a spoiled brat (albeit grown) making life miserable in revenge upon his brothers, I saw today a very wise and prudent man securing every assurance that it was to the benefit of everyone before he revealed himself.

Joseph was "testing" his brothers. By the time Judah offered himself in Benjamin's place, Joseph was convinced. No longer was it necessary to test them, he had seen all he needed to see - and not a minute too soon.

It is worth noting that Joseph could have started off "nice" when he realized that his brothers had come to him at first. However, if Joseph had been "thrown under the bus" once by this group of brothers, it was only prudent to be sure it didn't happen again. Joseph's reasoning was neither unfounded nor unwise as the responsibility of the preservation of many rested solely upon Joseph's shoulders. It was a wise move for Joseph to preserve himself in order to preserve the countless lives of all Egypt and surrounding nations..

Father, thank You for opening my eyes to see Joseph's wisdom in evaluating his brothers' true intent before revealing himself to them.

Dreams

2012-01-15T08:25:00.002-06:00

“Interpreting dreams is God’s business,” Joseph replied. “Go ahead and tell me your dreams.” [Genesis 40.8b]

The interpretation of dreams is an intriguing business. The reason it is intriguing is because people still have dreams today. While much of the "miraculous" we read about in the Bible is foreign to us today, the subject of dreams is something most every living person today is personally familiar with.

I speculate that any person who has ever had a vivid dream has spent at least a few moments pondering the meaning (if any) of that dream.

What if God is continuing to speak to people through dreams in these modern times?

Father, if You do continue to speak through dreams today, give us understanding that we might respond to these dreams in a manner useful and pleasing to You.

Hypocritical?

2012-01-14T08:58:00.000-06:00

In light of today's OYCB reading, it just dawned on me that I protected my children from "adult" situations as long as they were in my keep. With all my conscious effort, I prevented them from exposure to pornography and "adult" literature.

Until this day in my life it never occurred to me that, while providing this careful oversight of my own children, I blindly provided multiple Holy Bibles for them with every encouragement to read and even study those Bibles thoroughly. Those same Bibles contained stories of lust, sex, polygamy, homosexuality, incest and perversion (and that's only the sexual side of it).

I would never have allowed sexually charged literature to be in my children's possession. And yet, I persuaded them to not only read, but develop a habit of reading and absorbing the Bible.

How hypocritical am I?

How hypocritical is the church today?

I see my own hypocrisy in the religious ways I have separated myself from the so-called "world" and yet embraced wholeheartedly a book containing stories of every imaginable deviation from my declared "righteousness." What makes it okay to read about "filth" in the Bible but not okay to read about it in secular literature? Am I to believe that "context" is the answer to this question?

It is worth pointing out that the context of this sexually charged literature today is the account of Judah's "indiscretion" - the same Judah whose lineage defines the coming Messiah, Jesus the Christ.

Father, what a mind-revelation You have revealed to me today... I am not sure what to do with it!

Nothing New Here

2012-01-12T07:47:00.002-06:00

I guess no story is complete without its sex.

Jacob's plight is riddled with sexual problems as his daughter Dinah is raped and his son Reuben has sex with his stepmother Bilhah (Rachel's handmaid/Jacob's concubine/Dan's and Naphtali's mother).

So it would seem that sex is not just recently out of control in society but rather has a rich history of deviance. So there's nothing new here.

As my brother-in-law would say, "huh."

Father, I am uncertain what to make of today's OYCB reading. I'll trust You however to cause this to all soak in and speak to me eventually.

Lies

2012-01-11T07:57:00.000-06:00

Genesis 31: Did Jacob not lie to Rachel and Leah about how the flocks produced striped, speckled , and spotted offspring?

Did we not see in Genesis 30 that Jacob in fact engineered the reproductive environment of Laban's sheep thus yielding striped, speckled, and spotted offspring?

What we see is that Jacob also engineered his lie as craftily as he engineered his sheep! He attributed his fortune of striped, speckled, and spotted sheep to the hand of God with no mention whatsoever of his own contribution to the mating environment. His mother Rebekah had evidently taught him well (ref. deceiving his father Isaac regarding the firstborn blessing).

Oh what a tangled web we weave!

It is no surprise that Rachel lied so adequately in regards to having stolen Laban's idols. But fate, as it was, paid no honor to the lies told as Jacob ultimately spoke Rachel's untimely death into existence.

Wow.

Father, it seems the story here is a lesson about lies. While Jacob "got by" with his lies, it appears Rachel's luck with lying was not so prosperous as we will see shortly that Rachel died an untimely death.

Reality

2012-01-10T09:13:00.001-06:00

The details of today's OYCB reading are, well... Deception, in-breeding, polygamy, slavery, jealousy, competition, and manipulation. These are all part of God's story - God's promise - God's covenant.

Trying to imagine how this all must have taken place literally becomes pornographic in my head. The deception (Laban slipping Leah into Jacob's wedding bed), the in-breeding (first-cousins marrying), the polygamy (Leah, Rachel, Bilhah, and then Zilpah), the slavery (Bilhah and Zilpah not only as servants, but sexual slaves at Leah's and Rachel's disposal), the jealousy, competition and manipulation (all to have more of Jacob in bed and bear more children)... This all makes for what I consider a triple-X novel.

And God chose these events as the channel through which the Messiah would be identified (through Judah) and the lineage to Messiah would be preserved (through Joseph's plight)! This is the stuff that today's TV reality shows only wish they could depict!

Father, if indeed all the things listed above are "trash", then why would You ever allow those who attempt to pursue You to have to wade through this stuff?

The Words I Say

2012-01-09T07:56:00.000-06:00

Isaac began to tremble uncontrollably and said, “Then who just served me wild game? I have already eaten it, and I blessed him just before you came. And yes, that blessing must stand!” [Genesis 27.33]

If there was so much riding upon the actual recitation of the blessing upon Isaac's firstborn, why would not the fact that it was Jacob (and that he was boldly lying) negate the effect of the blessing?

Can we glean any knowledge about words from this narrative?

Clearly there is a phenomenon that contemporary man knows and therefore practices nothing of.

Isaac believed greatly in the words that he spoke over his supposed firstborn. Apparently, much faith went into the words of the blessing he spoke. So much was this the case that for Isaac to recant his words of blessing would mean to recant his faith.

We today are so far from this kind of faith. At the core of our own faith, we rarely speak anything with such conviction and faith as we see that Isaac did. And, even if we did, we would be too quick to recant.

Father, help me to believe in You. Likewise help me to believe in the words I say.

More To The Story?

2012-01-08T08:26:00.000-06:00

And when the time came to give birth, Rebekah discovered that she did indeed have twins! The first one was very red at birth and covered with thick hair like a fur coat. So they named him Esau. Then the other twin was born with his hand grasping Esau’s heel. So they named him Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born. [Genesis 25.24-26]

In all likelihood, Jacob and Esau were dizygotic (or "fraternal") twins simply due to the evidence given of their dissimilar physical characteristics. This would mean that the two children were carried in Rebekah's womb in two separate placentas and amniotic sacs.

Why the children struggled in Rebekah's womb is unknown - however factual. So great was their struggle that Rebekah asked the Lord about it and was subsequently told that their were "two nations" within her and that those two nations would struggle.

There seems to me to be more to this story and the facts than meets the eye. I just have no idea what it might be!

Father, help me to retain the information I get daily through reading and journaling about what I have read from the Bible. And even though I don't "get something" one day, help me to piece it together later as I get more complete data/understanding...

Obedience To God

2012-01-07T07:51:00.000-06:00

“Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.” [Genesis 22.12]

I can only assume Isaac heard these words as well as his father Abraham to whom they were directed. I can also only assume that hearing these words is the only reason Isaac would not think his father was not completely and murderously insane!

What must it have been like for the boy Isaac to realize that his father was going to sacrifice him? How terrifying was that first moment for Isaac when Abraham, after allowing Isaac to walk up carrying the wood, physically began to tie Isaac with rope to sacrifice him?

What kind of effect did this have on the father-son relationship?

This is certainly one of the stories in the Bible that gives me great pause. And while the narrative perhaps indicates that Abraham felt that God would provide a lamb all along, it also indicates clearly that Abraham went so far as to bind Isaac, lay him on the sacrifice wood pile, and even initiate the knife-in-hand arm movement that would kill Isaac.

I've heard a lot of religious talk about everything Abraham may have (by faith) intended to do... but nothing really prepares me for the fact that Abraham actually lifted his hand and knife to kill his son.

As I rack my brain trying to make sense of this, the only thing I can even remotely begin to grasp is that the sanctity of human life, as high a priority as it is, is still to be secondary to obedience to God.

Perhaps we have no clue what faith really is unless we can grasp and embrace the statement above.

Father, I am at a loss today. Perhaps my "faith" is no faith at all. Perhaps faith contains an element of obedience that I have never come to reckoning with. Please help my unbelief!

Abraham, Faithful?

2012-01-06T07:41:00.000-06:00

The Lord appeared again to Abraham near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. [Genesis 18.1a]

I am not absolutely sure what it was about Abraham that warranted God maintaining such a relationship with him. Bible readers are told that Abraham "believed God" and for that, he was blessed. But really, how was Abraham any different than anyone else at that time? Had everyone else completely discarded the notion of, and therefore devotion to God? Was Abraham the only righteous soul? If so, how could he engage in such deception with Pharoah and then Abimelech (lying about Sarah)? If Abraham really and truly "believed" then why did he lie like that? The only thing his lie served to preserve was his own neck! If Abraham actually "believed" Sarah would bear him a son, why would he have ever consented to her being taken as wife by Abimelech? I don't get it.

Father, I'm not seeing the faith from Abraham that the Bible claims he is so great for. Am I just blind myself?

To See Or Not To See

2012-01-05T08:05:00.003-06:00

Then God said to Abraham, “Your responsibility is to obey the terms of the covenant. You and all your descendants have this continual responsibility. This is the covenant that you and your descendants must keep: Each male among you must be circumcised. [Genesis 17.9-10]

In light of my recent post (January 3) about nakedness and the apparent seriousness of one seeing another naked, I find it quite inconsistent that the sign of God's covenant would be circumcision!

Would not circumcision (and a covenant religion based upon it) ultimately require an awful lot of penis-gazing?

Somehow this needs to be reconciled.

To see or not to see... that is the question!

Father, I find it difficult to adopt a solid belief about nakedness when Your story (the Bible) gives me no solid direction on it...

Bad Decision

2012-01-04T08:11:00.003-06:00

At that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to go down to Egypt, where he lived as a foreigner. As he was approaching the border of Egypt, Abram said to his wife, Sarai, “Look, you are a very beautiful woman. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife. Let’s kill him; then we can have her!’ So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.” [Genesis 12.10-13]

Abram was a real "knight in shining armor." As best I can understand it, Abram's entire reason for requiring Sarai to tell the Egyptians she was his wife was so he wouldn't be killed. Evidently his marriage to Sarai wasn't so important as his own neck!

Perhaps there is a cultural factor here that modern societies are unaccustomed to... Ya think?

Based on my cultural understanding of marriage, as well as my spiritual understanding of it, I would have to conclude that Abram made a bad decision in asking Sarai to claim she was his sister. But it seems that God orchestrated events so that Abram and Sarai came out of it unscathed.

Father I realize not every decision we make is right. Likewise I realize that Your hand of protection keeps us even when we cannot keep ourselves!

Nakedness Again

2012-01-03T09:17:00.002-06:00

After the flood, Noah began to cultivate the ground, and he planted a vineyard. One day he drank some wine he had made, and he became drunk and lay naked inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw that his father was naked and went outside and told his brothers. Then Shem and Japheth took a robe, held it over their shoulders, and backed into the tent to cover their father. As they did this, they looked the other way so they would not see him naked. [Genesis 9.20-23]

Once again nakedness is an issue. First, it was Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden - they saw each other naked and made coverings for themselves. Then in today's reading, it is Ham seeing Noah naked.

Now it would seem obvious that there is much more to the story of Ham than is recorded here. But is that indeed the case? It is true that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were settled by Ham's descendants. Also, the Philistines (Israel's early arch enemies) were descendants of Ham. What was it then, about Ham seeing Noah naked that initiated so much bad stuff?

I do have further questions. Why did Shem and Japheth feel compelled to go into Noah's tent to cover him? Why not just tell everyone to stay away until Noah sobered up and got dressed? They obviously felt that being naked, albeit in the privacy of one's own tent, had greater ramifications than just being seen by another human (remember Adam and Eve hid from God even after covering themselves from each other). And, Noah felt this way too as he cursed Canaan after he sobered up and discovered what had happened.

However, if just being naked was the problem, then Noah would have been guilty as well since he's the one who got himself drunk and naked! So, it comes back then to Ham's actions - the problem lies within Ham's response (and why was he in the tent anyway?).

Perhaps "seeing" Noah naked was not so much the problem for Ham as it was seeing Noah naked and liking it. We simply do not know the context in which Ham "told" his brothers - was it like, "hey guys, check this out!" or was it like, "I've just seen something terrible...!"? Due to the nature of Noah's response, it would appear the former.

Father, help me to understand as much as possible about the stories I read and adjust my own life and thinking to be most pleasing to You!

I Wonder

2012-01-02T07:51:00.000-06:00

The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. [Genesis 6.5]

The immediate context of this statement gives only a single clue as to why God saw mankind as evil: that they were having sex and multiplying.

It is true that earlier, we have the account of Cain murdering Abel. And we have some indication that there was another case of murder. But more than that, all the early writings imply more often that humans were engaging in intercourse and they were living a long time.

Although God was clear in the creative beginning that man should multiply, could it be that after the "fall" (and keeping in mind Adam and Eve's guilt over their nakedness) that their multiplication was seen in a different light by God?

It makes me wonder...

Father, help me to see what it is that took place in those early centuries. Help me to understand what You were seeing and what You were intending to accomplish.

Nakedness (what a great way to start the year...)

2012-01-01T08:57:00.000-06:00

At that moment [when Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil] their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. [Genesis 3.7]

And so, sin began in the world.

Why did Adam and Eve feel shame at their nakedness? What did that have to do with anything?

Why now is nakedness attached to so much sinfulness? What is it about nudity that creates such a stir?

What about eating the forbidden fruit caused Adam and Eve to recognize nakedness - why not just feel guilty?

How does the knowledge of good and evil affect being nude or clothed?

Perhaps...

Just perhaps Adam and Eve were the most magnificent and beautiful creatures in the Garden of Eden. As such it is conclusive their very bodies themselves radiated the glory of God - not in a glow-in-the-dark way, but just by the sheer excellence of their anatomy. Perhaps for sin to now dwell in that perfect body created a mental state of conflict - shame. Naturally, their most obvious God-revealing asset, their perfect bodies, burned their newly formed consciences. So much were their consciences affected that merely sewing fig leaves together was not enough - they were compelled to hide from God as well.

I am not certain how our perception of nudity today emerged from all this. Furthermore I am not absolutely sure we actually have it all right (whether the most conservative Christian or all-exposing naturalist).

It is interesting however that man first clothed himself (fig leaves). It was God Who then indicated that blood shed (animal skins) would be the ugly truth of Adam and Eve's sin.

Just some thoughts...

Father, as I begin this another New Year, help me to approach Your Story with my eyes and ears wide open. I want to give You my understanding - develop it as You wish.

Year-End Confusion

2011-12-31T07:42:00.000-06:00

The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. [Revelation 21.14]

I'm just curious.. exactly which of the "twelve" apostles names are written?

Then the angel said to me, “Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. The Lord God, who inspires his prophets, has sent his angel to tell his servants what will happen soon.”

“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.”

I, John, am the one who heard and saw all these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. But he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!”

Then he instructed me, “Do not seal up the prophetic words in this book, for the time is near. Let the one who is doing harm continue to do harm; let the one who is vile continue to be vile; let the one who is righteous continue to live righteously; let the one who is holy continue to be holy.”

“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” [Revelation 22.6-12]

Who's talking (in quotations) here? The angel? Jesus? God?

Father, as I have read the last reading of this year, I see myself confused once again. What seems to bother me the most is that I still struggle with a fairy-tale-ish-Sunday-School-pie-in-the-sky mentality about what I believe. Please give me the grace to grow - to mature - and let it not be for the purpose of my own "maturity" per se, but let it be for the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Lamb Will Not Be Defeated

2011-12-30T07:45:00.000-06:00

Together they [the ten kings who have not yet risen to power - vs. 12] will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of all lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him. [Revelation 17.14]

I don't get much from reading Revelation, but this I do get: the Lamb will not be defeated.

Father, help me to move ever closer to faithfulness to You and Your Kingdom!

Dumbfounded

2011-12-29T07:46:00.002-06:00

The Book of Revelation contains some pretty intense depictions of end times. As I read the descriptions of these events, I find myself rather dumbfounded. I realize just how little I actually understand of it and its supporting writings (the Prophets and Jesus).

The oddity of this fact is that it comes after what has been several years now of faithful reading of the collection of writings known as the Bible. It is as if the more I have learned, the less I have comprehended.

One thing is certain, I need more understanding. I need more time in the Bible. I need more comprehension and continuity in my knowledge of God's story. I wish the Book of Revelation could become more understood by me and not less!

Father, I'm not sure how this all works, but what I have stated here is true (as I know and understand truth). I am not lying to say that it seems to me that I have less comprehension of the Bible now than ever before. Particularly the Book of Revelation seems more ambiguous now than at any other time I have ever read it. Help!

Reason to Consider

2011-12-28T07:32:00.001-06:00

I posed the question a few days ago on a social media site: "What if Christians are wrong? What is the worst that can happen?"

Likewise I posted the following: "What if non-Christians are wrong? What is the worst that can happen?"

In response to my questions above, a dear friend posted the following two answers: "If Christians are wrong, they have everything to gain, and nothing to lose. However, if non-Christians are wrong, they have nothing to gain and everything to lose."

John's record of events in the Revelation certainly gives reason to at least consider our lives and purpose on earth.

Father, help me to be ever more mindful of my life and purpose here on earth. Give me ever increasing clarity in understanding the times in which I live.

The Revelation

2011-12-27T06:46:00.000-06:00

It is good to read the Revelation as written by John. I find myself returning to the idea that God does indeed have protocol and does indeed desire and surround Himself with music and worship.

If we learn nothing from the book of John's Revelation regarding end times, we should at least discern something of God's environment. There is undeniable worship and beauty associated with God and His habitation.

Of course however, Revelation is indeed about the end of time as we know it, and, if prophetic writings continue to prove as reliable as they have proven thus far, then there is much to learn about the consummation of this world.

Father, help me to grasp the full and entire meaning of Revelation!

Proof

2011-12-25T06:52:00.000-06:00

Remember that those who do good prove that they are God's children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God. [3 John 1.11b]

How many times have we declared our own sinfulness? How many times have we agonized over the bad things we do or have done?

If John was right, then perhaps we better get serious about what we call faith!

Father, I am so sick of playing religion all the while "proving" nothing of a real relationship with You!

The Enemy

2011-12-22T06:53:00.000-06:00

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. [I Peter 5.8]

There is indeed an enemy. He is a "great" enemy - no small consideration.

How often I forget this very important fact.

Father help me remain conscious of the fact that I have a deadly enemy.

Future Event / Present Preparation

2011-12-21T07:06:00.001-06:00

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. [I Peter 1.8-9]

It just seems to me that the salvation of one's soul is a future event with present preparation.

Is that not indeed faith?

Let's say there is going to be a concert. It will be a large concert - a huge production - requiring weeks of preparation. The preparation is NOT the concert! However, without the preparation there will be no concert. So it is with faith. Faith is the preparation for salvation. It is not salvation - but without it, salvation is impossible.

Father, even though I have never seen You, I believe I will... and so I prepare. Help me in this endeavor!

Creation

2011-12-20T07:14:00.001-06:00

By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. [Hebrews 11.3]

I suppose those who reject God have every reason to reject His claims. Why would anyone ever settle for a creation account of the beginning of the world as we know it if they do not believe in God?

On the other hand, why would anyone who believes in God struggle at all with the account of creation?

The real question is not whether God did or did not create the world. The question is, "what does one believe?"

It really does come down to faith. I suppose believers everywhere need first to settle their faith-factor before considering the scientific "facts."

But what if science disproves God's claim to creation?

Really? (read sarcasm here)

The nice thing about science, exact as it may be, is that no matter how much is learned, never will ALL be learned. Microscopes will get more powerful and understanding will increase, but man will never arrive at a place where he can say with absolutism, "This is all there is to know about this." There will always be more. Space, by its very nature, cannot just stop - even if all we comprehend of the universe is in a box, the box is still in something.

So, try as man might, he can never factually and definitively say, "There is no God." He will either struggle all his existence in resistance to faith, or he will rest in it. It is his choice.

Father, I love to hear about all the science. The depth of your creativity is limitless. But at the end of the day, I believe You are indeed our creator and source. I do. And I am at peace with that.

This Is The Life

2011-12-19T08:46:00.002-06:00

And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. [Hebrews 10.19-25]

This is the life. This is the life of a true believer. This is the life of a Christian.

If one is seeking a grass-roots directive on living for God, this is it.

Father, I am thankful today that You have made clear what the Christian life looks like.

Pitiful Powerless Existence

2011-12-16T08:25:00.000-06:00

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! [II Timothy 3.1-5]

If ever man was living in the last days, surely now must be it!

It seems to me however that the worst of Paul's warning to Timothy is the last part: "They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly."

To me, this speaks of all the effort of modern theology or doctrine to discredit any person or movement that is associated with the miraculous.

The sad truth however is that the miracle workers of today are, for the most part, rather incredible (as in not credible).

But I still do not find that the effort should be squelched! Just because people fail at faith does not warrant discarding faith! And yet, that is precisely what modern theology and doctrine do! They re-define faith to some powerless religious state of living.

The implications of what I am writing are huge. I have pretty much indicted myself undeniably. I don't know which is worse, claiming religion and denying the power or claiming the power and having none.

Father, I can only repent today of my pitiful powerless existence.

Sad

2011-12-15T08:50:00.000-06:00

I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. [II Timothy 1.5-7]

There is definitely something to the event of laying hands on someone. Paul indicates clearly that his having done so to Timothy imparted no uncertain gift. And that gift is something to be developed according to Paul's instruction to "fan it into flames." Likewise, the gift, when built upon, develops outward power, love, and self-discipline.

I suppose the first shortcoming believers experience today is that they rarely even encounter spiritual power in another individual. Consequently, if one does not witness that power in another, there will be no transferal of that power to others through the laying on of hands. However, if by chance one encounters a power, love, and self-disciplined individual, and, furthermore experiences the laying on of hands from that individual, it is far more rare that the recipient of the laying on of hands develops that which is "transferred" to them by that event.

In short, there is simply very little of God's power demonstrated today and even less transferred to others.

Sad.

Father, I am sad for our mostly powerless condition today. We need reviving.

Contentment

2011-12-14T08:15:00.002-06:00

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. [I Timothy 6.6]

Where is the contentment today?

It is a rare phenomenon to behold in current times. Few people are actually content.

It seems many have developed an internal drive - a drive that always longs for and seeks out "something else." And no matter what that "something else" is, once it is achieved or obtained, it never fails that "something else" becomes the new goal.

Perhaps I am being too transparent here all the while failing to even see myself!

Father, I want to pursue the contentment Paul spoke of to Timothy. I want to find myself living in that contentment. I desire that others discover that contentment because of my life.

Prayer For Others

2011-12-13T08:34:00.003-06:00

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops. [James 5.16-18]

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. [I Timothy 2.1-4]

One could get the idea that prayer is important when reading James' and Paul's letters.

The subject of our prayers should simply be people.

Father, I've seen once again the importance of praying for others. Let me never lose sight of this goal. Let my life be an offering of prayer for others.

Faith Without Works

2011-12-12T07:18:00.002-06:00

So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you. [James 2.12-13]

The whole discourse on faith without works comes on the heels of the statements above.

What ARE the works of faith that a true believer is to engage in?

I would suggest here that we consider mercy to be the most pure demonstration of God in the earth today that we can show. Mercy envelops what James previously discussed about favoritism - it is because of mercy that we show each and every individual equal regard.

And frankly, without mercy, how can we ever hope to demonstrate the character of God in the earth?

Father, if ever I see my failure, I see it now. The choice to show mercy is not one You make for me - only I can do so with the faith You have given me.

Relationships II

2011-12-11T07:28:00.001-06:00

Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. [Philippians 4.2]

Once again, Paul has placed himself between two others in regards to fostering good relationships.

Wouldn't have been easier just to let them work it out? It seems that Paul was not of that mind at all!

One thing obvious through this and yesterday's reading, Paul was concerned about relationships. So concerned was Paul in fact that he would make the uncomfortable effort to bring about reconciliation.

Father, I find myself very weak in this area of encouraging reconciliation between others...

Relationships

2011-12-10T07:19:00.000-06:00

I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. [Philemon 1.10]

In Christ, one relationship may affect others.

Father, give me the grace to see how this applies to my life...

Truth Revealed Through Thankfulness

2011-12-09T07:36:00.001-06:00

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. [Colossians 2.6-7]

When I read and re-read the statement above made by Paul in his letter to the Colossian believers, I struggle to see that I have any part in Christ whatsoever. The most damning thing is the "overflow with thankfulness" part. I simply do not find thankfulness overflowing from my heart.

So if thankfulness is not in my heart, then, according to Paul, my faith is not strong in the truth.

And if this self indictment is not bad enough, worse yet is the fact that well-meaning people would encourage me not to be so hard on myself. And, even far worse than that is that these well-meaning people are supposedly "Christians."

If these well-meaning people struggle also with thankfulness because they are not strong in the truth, how can they console me for being like them if we are both in peril?

Father, let truth be the strength of my life. Help me to see that Jesus is the embodiment of all truth and wisdom. Let this truth reveal itself in me through thankfulness.

Action Required!

2011-12-08T08:28:00.001-06:00

For husbands, this [submit to one another - vs. 21] means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body. [Ephesians 5.25-30]

Wow. It is not enough to say "I love you." There is, no doubt, some action required!

Father, You know the help I need in this... not so much to "love" my wife, but to make sure "she knows it!"

The Message Of Grace

2011-12-07T08:50:00.001-06:00

So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored. [Galatians 3.13]

The last thing I want to accomplish here is to distract or be distracted from the amazing message of grace found in Paul's letter to the Ephesian believers. However, based on the thought I have been following over the course of the last few days, I find that Paul makes a very interesting comment above.

Paul stated that his suffering was for the Ephesian believers. But I don't buy it. Paul's suffering was because he chose to go to Jerusalem against repeated warnings by the Holy Spirit and wanted to participate in a Jewish festival there. His message was ill received by the Jews there and so he was arrested. The rest is merely consequential to that decision.

One thing for sure though is that we can see Paul's humanity blended in with the life-changing message of grace in Jesus Christ. If anything, this should not discourage believers down through the ages, but on the contrary, should encourage believers to press on regardless of their own disappointing humanity!

Father, thank You for allowing me to see what appears to be a little discrepancy in the Apostle Paul's famous life and ministry. Thank You for allowing me to see the power You put on display through the life of this man. Thank You for encouraging me that, even in my own humanity and idiosyncrasies, You still wish to accomplish Your plan through my life - and that, in itself, is the message of Grace! YES!

True To His Calling?

2011-12-06T08:42:00.001-06:00

Three days after Paul’s arrival [in Rome], he called together the local Jewish leaders. [Acts 28.17a]

Why?

Do we again see Paul's inclination to the Jews when he should actually be preaching to the Gentiles (as per Jesus' instructions on the road to Damascus)? Was Paul being true to his calling?

I am not trying to pick Paul apart, but I am trying to see all of what went on in his life so that I might piece together a more comprehensive understanding of all that took place. In so doing, it seems that although Paul was called the preach the Good News to Gentiles he somehow found himself participating in Jewish customs, preaching to the Jews, and suffering greatly for it.

God's will is not something to be messed with. Just ask Paul.

Father, I want to pay extra close attention to what You are saying to me. I want to be obedient to what You have called me to do and to be. Help me not judge myself according to any other person but according to what You have called me to.

Obedience To The Spirit

2011-12-05T08:09:00.001-06:00

Not to whip a subject to death... But had Paul skipped Jerusalem and gone to Rome as a free man, the horrendous events he and those around him incurred (documented in today's OYCB reading) could have been avoided.

First off, a lot of time was wasted by Paul's imprisonment because of his visit to Jerusalem. Mind you, this visit had a lot to do with the Jewish festival of Pentecost (supposedly included in all the law and traditions completed by Christ). Paul was determined to get to Jerusalem for Pentecost. This visit and subsequent fiasco, in all likelihood, was the reason Paul's captive journey to Rome was pushed back later in the year (late fall) thus rendering the journey perilous due to poor sailing conditions at that time of year.

Secondly, Paul's strong-headed determination to go to Jerusalem ultimately endangered the lives of at least 275 other individuals! I will concede however this particular ship could have sailed regardless of Paul's fare on the vessel... but it is worth noting that Paul was likely a large contributing reason for the importance of getting on to Italy even though it was dangerously late in the sailing season.

So, once again, I ask myself, Was Paul simply following his own desire to go to Jerusalem? How would church history have looked had Paul simply avoided Jerusalem in consideration of the repeated warnings and stayed focused on taking the Gospel to the Gentiles as Jesus instructed him originally?

We can and will never know.

However, I can know what my own obedience to the Spirit yields. I can pray for direction from God, listen to the voice of His Holy Spirit, allow Him to confirm the direction through the input of trusted fellow believers, and subsequently walk in assurance of being in God's will knowing His help and protection are mine along the way.

Father, I realize that nothing is as clear-cut as sometimes it seems. But, one message the Bible seems to teach is that obedience gives us a better chance of benefiting from Your presence and protection. In my own life I have witnessed this. Father I want to hear Your voice and obey the leading of Your Spirit within!

Why Go To Jerusalem?

2011-12-04T08:50:00.001-06:00

Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus, for he didn’t want to spend any more time in the province of Asia. He was hurrying to get to Jerusalem, if possible, in time for the Festival of Pentecost. [Acts 20.16 from Dec 2 OYCB reading]

Why go to Jerusalem?

I keep coming back to the same conclusion that Paul may have been operating under his own direction and not that of the Holy Spirit in going to Jerusalem...

I went back to the statement above from a couple days ago to see that at least part of Paul's reason to go to Jerusalem was to participate in the Jewish festival of Pentecost. My only problem with this is that for a man "set free" from the law, it sure seems important to Paul to participate.

So again, I am trying to determine if Paul was perhaps not entirely following the Spirit in going to Jerusalem.

In today's OYCB reading, Paul reveals to Agrippa what Jesus had originally instructed him to do:

“‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked. “And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. You are to tell the world what you have seen and what I will show you in the future. And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’ [Acts 26.15-18]

It is my observation, from Paul's own testimony, that if he were actually commissioned to reach the Gentiles then he would not have gone to Jerusalem!

Father, I know in my own life that my decisions to do "other than what You have revealed" have always been met not only with difficulty, but many times with outright defeat. Help me to listen to You and also to those You bring in my life to confirm what You have already said!

Should Paul Have Gone Or Not?

2011-12-03T09:02:00.001-06:00

That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.” [Acts 23.11]

Paul had some further communication from God. Did that communication support Paul's decision to go to Jerusalem?

At first glance it would appear Paul's circumstance was all orchestrated by God (as Paul was not actually chastised for going to Jerusalem). However, with a more thorough look, the wording does not definitively indicate whether Paul was right or wrong in going to Jerusalem. What the Lord DID definitively declare was that Paul was to go to Rome.

Now, it is worth keeping in mind however that in Ananias' instructions to encounter Paul, he was told, And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” Acts 9.16.

So, I am personally at a bit of a loss as to whether Paul should have gone to Jerusalem or not. All the other believers (who also had heard from the Spirit) indicated that going to Jerusalem was a mistake.

Father, I have my doubts as to whether Paul was accurate in His decision to go to Jerusalem. Certainly he immediately met with suffering there. As I continue to read this story, help me to grasp the facts - help me to see what is going on. And help me to learn more about this Way so that I might journey on with ever increasing confidence!

Pivotal Events

2011-12-02T07:13:00.001-06:00

You know this whole account of Paul is worth intently perusing. What in the world is going on?

Paul feels like the Holy Spirit is telling him that he will suffer in Jerusalem. This is clearly what the Holy Spirit is telling others, but they see it as an indicator to "cease and desist" on the Jerusalem journey. Paul, however alone in his interpretation, feels it is what the Spirit wants.

Then, once Paul arrives in Jerusalem, it is obvious the "Gospel" has been preached with two very different platforms. One group has adhered to the law, and the other has apparently given the law much less significance. For his role in leniency toward adherence to the law (whether real or perceived), Paul is indeed wanted dead by the Jews.

Question: was the "law-friendly" faction right or wrong? Was Paul wrong?

One thing is for absolutely certain, the church was experiencing division from even this the earliest of times in its recorded history. That division has not gone away amongst believers. If anything, it is worse than ever.

My personal opinion is that Paul was onto something right. His letter to the church at Galatia for example was perhaps written during a time of his most clear understanding of grace. Those who were protecting the law (as Jewish custom goes) were perhaps the hesitant ones - those who found themselves reluctant to "dive in" to the fullness of grace - leaving the law as a student leaves a school textbook at the end of a school year.

So what lesson is there for us to learn from this account of Paul's life and ministry?

How might Christianity and the Bible (as we know it) have been different today had Paul interpreted the Holy Spirit's warnings about going to Jerusalem? How pivotal were these events in church history?

Father, more than ever, I see the need to seek out and listen to the voice of Your Holy Spirit. Give me also the grace to clearly understand just what it is Your Spirit is saying and journey on in accordance with the direction provided!

It Begins With Jesus

2011-12-01T08:10:00.001-06:00

You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed. [II Corinthians 11.4]

This is quite an indictment Paul has landed against the believers at Corinth!

What bothers me is the fact that Paul could make this same statement about modern believers in mainstream denominations!

It all has to begin with Jesus.

Think about it, Paul's ministry began with an encounter with Jesus.

I fear that many believers today began their "relationship with God" in other ways - not actually because of an encounter with Jesus.

Whoa.

Father, I am faced with my own question today, "Have I begun this journey at Jesus' invitation or at the invitation of someone else?"

Not Giving At All

2011-11-30T07:56:00.000-06:00

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” [II Corinthians 9.7]

I've heard and read this all my life.

It makes perfect sense that, rather than giving reluctantly, one is better off not giving at all.

Father, help me to grasp the full meaning of Paul's statement here - it seems right in every regard.

Living For Others

2011-11-29T06:54:00.001-06:00

He [Jesus] died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. [II Corinthians 5.15]

What is the real sign of Christianity? Not living for oneself.

The implications of this are frightening. And they should be.

People everywhere claim to be Christians with no evidence whatsoever of "living for others." Even their worship is self-centered. It is all about "me" and what "I" get from God in "my" relationship with God and His people.

But what is my life saying and doing for others?

Father, I am certainly put in my place today. I have much to learn about living for others and not for myself.

Is Something Amiss?

2011-11-28T07:20:00.001-06:00

We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this [what the eat and what day they worship]. We must not just please ourselves. [Romans 15.1]

Even thought I missed several days of blogging here, I find myself back at the same place I was when I left off. How can one have convictions about the life and liberty in Christ and keep it to himself (ref. Romans 14.22)?

It seems as if Paul is mostly concerned that the church does not quarrel. Who knows, maybe that had become such a problem in and of itself that that is all Paul could spend his efforts on...

But it remains to be seen how one can have deep convictions about the redemptive work of Jesus and then yet have to keep it quiet for fear of displeasing others. Is something not amiss about this?

Father, I want to live a life pleasing to You. Help me to sort out what Paul is teaching in light of what Jesus Himself taught in order to arrive at an accurate life of faith that pleases You.

Free In Christ?

2011-11-20T21:43:00.001-06:00

It seems Paul has painted himself in the proverbial corner with this idol meat eating dialog. How can one teach others about "freedom in Christ" but still avoid meat offered to idols so as not to offend them? Either Christ has freed one and all who believe, or none at all!

Father, I know how revered the teachings of Paul are, but how can he be a teacher of grace in Christ Jesus and still pander to the law?

How Much Time Is Left?

2011-11-19T20:45:00.001-06:00

But let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage. Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions. Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away. [I Corinthians 7.29-31]

Here's the deal... Paul missed it on this.

As we now know, the 'time' Paul was speaking about was indeed not short. So, frankly, Paul's advise is irrelevant. Are we then to reverse engineer this to discern what it is we should be doing by doing the opposite of what Paul recommended? Or, are we to follow Paul's advise based on the same faulty information?

How can we however determine that time is not short now? Regardless of how much time Paul thought remained, how do we determine how much time is left?

It is a wonder Christianity even survived this teaching of Paul! What if every Christian took Paul's instruction here seriously? Would it not have put Christianity at risk of extinction?

Father, I am not sure what to make of Paul's advise to the believers in Corinth. I guess it's a good thing they did not really follow his advise!

Something Missing?

2011-11-18T06:47:00.001-06:00

Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos, an eloquent speaker who knew the Scriptures well, had arrived in Ephesus from Alexandria in Egypt. He had been taught the way of the Lord, and he taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit and with accuracy. However, he knew only about John’s baptism. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately. [Acts 18.24-26]

There is something I believe the church at large today is missing.

It appears the baptism of John is distinctly different than the baptism of Jesus which appears to be one and the same as the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

The interesting thing is that Apollos apparently had a successful and valid ministry without the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

But there was indeed more.

Father, as I try to absorb the early days of Christianity, I find that modern theology has largely missed it. Even those who promote the baptism in the Holy Spirit today still don't have the evident miracles and power seen with early believers. Or am I just blind?

Faith Requires God's Power

2011-11-17T06:12:00.001-06:00

So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ. [II Thessalonians 1.11-12]

This one little paragraph in Paul's second letter to the Thessalonian believers contains much!

Paul proves by example that we are to continue in prayer. He demonstrates the need for persistence in prayer.

But what Paul prays for is revealing as well! He prays for believers to find the power to accomplish the things their faith prompts them to do. First, one must be prompted by faith! Each and every person has been given faith. That faith does not reside dormant, but is constantly urging the believer to do something - anything - that is outside the realm of of their own possibility. How do we know this? Because Paul prays for the power to accomplish those things. If it were in the ability of the person to do what his faith prompted, then Paul would have prayed for willingness instead of power.

Faith prompts us to do what we are unable to do in and of ourselves. Faith requires God's power.

Hmm.

Father, I realize that You intend to be glorified in this earth even today. I further realize that You are glorified much more by your power than by my willingness. I need to walk therefore in Your power but I find myself in quite the situation because I am not so sure I am willing!

The Word of God

2011-11-16T09:00:00.001-06:00

Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe. [I Thessalonians 2.13]

Here is an interesting idea. Paul declares his message to be the very word of God.

How does one arrive at that conclusion?

Can a man today declare his message to be the very word of God?

One must remember that the NT book of I Thessalonians is a letter from Paul to the believers (church) at Thessalonica.

It makes me think we should re-evaluate our understanding of "the word of God." Likewise, perhaps we should reconsider our understanding of "the scriptures." Are the two synonymous?

Lately, the "word of God" has meant much more to me than words on a page. I will go so far as to say my estimation of the "word of God" has transcended even beyond what is considered "the Bible." The word of God is what the Bible talks about. The word of God is what the prophets declared. The word of God is what Jesus lived and taught. The word of God is what the Holy Spirit brings to the lives of those in whom he dwells. The word of God is ALIVE!

Father, as I consider what I have believed all my life about the "word of God" I realize my perception (even indoctrination) has been far short of the reality of Your Word. Help me to live and walk in the true light and power of Your Word!

Set Free?

2011-11-15T06:59:00.001-06:00

From the apostles and elders in Jerusalem to the Gentile believers in Antioch:

“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements: You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell.” [Acts 15.28-20]

If, as Paul wrote to the believers in Galatia, Christ has indeed set us free to no longer worry about our own achievement of righteousness but to love one another, then why would early leaders see fit to make the stipulations above?

Are the instructions above not still, in practice, adherence to the law?

What was the basis for making such regulations? Was it not indeed the law?

Father, I see that the early church faced its own hurdles in seeing Christ truly as Redeemer - complete and thorough. Help me to comprehend grace more fully - help me to walk in love more completely.

Sum It Up!

2011-11-14T07:17:00.001-06:00

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. [Galatians 5.13-15]

Sum it up! Love your neighbor as yourself!

How much simpler could the Gospel message be? Because of Christ, we are free to focus not on ourselves (to obey strict rules and regulations so we might be saved), but to focus on others. We have been given the assurance that Christ has taken our case and covered our sin-debt so that we might literally forget about ourselves and spend our thoughts and efforts on others!

Father, thank You for Jesus! Thank You that I have been freed from the daily routine and drudgery of making sure I am "clean" so that I might then obey Your Holy Spirit and love others without reservation or concern for myself!

A God-fearing Lost Man

2011-11-11T09:05:00.001-06:00

In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. [Acts 10.1-2]

This description is of Cornelius before salvation! He was a devout, God-fearing man... a devout, God-fearing lost man!

How many Christians today would be satisfied just to be recognized as was Cornelius here in Acts 10?

A LOT of people think they are Christians. I think I am a Christian. But is faith truly involved?

The implications of Cornelius' spiritual condition of being a good God-fearing man but still being lost should make us all fall to our knees and pray! Furthermore, the proof of salvation is clearly indicated to be the manifestation of the Holy Spirit.

Is it any wonder that Christianity is in the general condition it is in today when our lives and salvation experience are basically nothing like that of the early believers?

Father, I know there are so many interpretations and explanations for all the events of the early church - most of which are supposedly passed away... If our salvation experience looks nothing like the salvation experience of the early church, then how can we claim continuity with the early church - and more particularly to Jesus?

Remain Objective...

2011-11-10T08:03:00.001-06:00

Up through today's OYCB reading, the miraculous is still evident in the early believers. However, there is also evidence of less-than-holy attempts to harness God's power as if it was a commodity to be bought and sold. Although not necessarily present in every instance, the litmus test for the genuineness of the miracle seemed primarily to be found in the fruit of the miracle - salvation.

Father, please help me to remain objective as I absorb the actions of early believers. Prevent me from relying solely upon biased denominational interpretation (and therefore indoctrination) that may not be entirely committed to Your Truth - help me to seek out Truth from Your Holy Spirit - even if it implicates me as insincere in my own faith!

The End of Miracles (as a defining characteristic of the church)

2011-11-09T07:37:00.000-06:00

But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. [Acts 6.1a]

Is it just destiny that when people get together they eventually start to fight?

As I survey the early church development and note where the miraculous power and authority began to wane, it seems this point in time could be that beginning (or, more appropriately, that end). Sure there were a few more miracles documented - mostly in the life on one man, the apostle Paul. But Paul was pretty much a non-conformist anyway.

I am just trying to piece this all together and it consistently comes back to me that the church simply left off living in unity with one another and chose division and strife instead. Naturally it would seem, God would never honor such division and strife with His miraculous power. Or, perhaps the more theologically accurate way to say this is that the early church was so focused on itself that it left off focusing on the power and authority of God Almighty - and THEN the miracles really became fewer and further between.

Father, I really want to see where the church became separated from the miraculous on a regular basis. We all know it happened - just when? And why? I don't see anywhere that You changed anything... but I absolutely see the development of division and strife among believers...

Life After Pentecost

2011-11-08T07:32:00.000-06:00

Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact! [Acts 3.12-15]

For all the profundity of Acts 2, perhaps Acts 3 is more revealing of life after the Resurrection. Acts 3 gives us a glimpse into life after the renown Day of Pentecost.

Peter and John were participants in the lame beggar's healing. They were neither surprised by God's miraculous intervention on the man's behalf nor were they expecting the onlookers to be surprised. What Peter and John did was the natural result of having been changed and consequently walking in obedience to (and likeness of) the One they believed to be the Messiah.

Frankly, this only makes me wonder all the more if indeed we are truly changed today... If we are truly Jesus' disciples - His faithful followers - then how can we genuinely find contentment in weak theology that "passes away" the caring and loving touch of healing Jesus He so readily offered and instructed His followers to imitate?

I am not implying that faith should be some out-of-body experience for contemporary believers with no problems or obstacles. But what I am very much implying is that it was ultimately Jesus' healing touch that drew so much attention and thus the ire of the religious leaders of the day. It would prove harmonious with the life of Jesus for us to walk in that same way as did Peter and John.

The problem is found in that, for most, there is simply no evidence that they are actually associated with the life and work of Jesus. There is a lot of "talk" but very little of the power and authority of heaven demonstrated.

Perhaps then that power and authority did indeed "pass away."

But, should it have?

Father, as I read the earliest accounts of Jesus' followers after Pentecost, I cannot help but believe it was followers who cooled of (miraculously speaking) and not You.

Obedience Or Necessity

2011-11-07T06:06:00.003-06:00

Peter continued, “This was written in the book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.’ It also says, ‘Let someone else take his position.’ “So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus—from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.” [Acts 1.20-22]

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. [Acts 2.42-47]

Which way would be preferred? Obedience, or necessity?

I noticed today two different events in the early church record as told by Luke. The disciples felt like the Psalms indicated that Judas needed to be replaced. So they did it.

In contrast, I noticed that the believers gathered together - even selling all their goods and living communally - something not really indicated as God's will in the prophets' writings...

The contrast I see is between obedience and necessity.

Ironically, some Bible scholars argue that perhaps the disciples got ahead of themselves by choosing Matthias contending that the Apostle Paul should have been waited for. And yet, this was a move of "obedience" to what was believed prophetic instruction found in the Psalms.

Nowhere do I recall seeing that any prophecy is attributed as to why the new believers gathered as they did and began living communally. Likewise, nowhere that I know of does it imply that they were "obeying God" to do so - they simply did it out of what presented itself as necessity. And yet, God was so apparently impressed by it that he honored Peter's death sentence on Annanias' and Sapphira's lie!

Father, I know it is good to see what others have said and done and obediently do likewise. But how much more fluid is a relationship where the participants respond naturally out of necessity to one another?

The Holy Spirit

2011-11-06T06:51:00.004-06:00

“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” [Luke 24.49]
Jesus spoke of his return. Jesus is one with God. Jesus is one with man. Jesus is one with the Holy Spirit.
How does the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit was poured out on men) relate to Jesus' return ...if indeed Jesus and the Spirit are one?
Father, help me to process the words spoken by Jesus relative to the events that followed. Help me to understand. As the men on the road to Emmaus were blind until Jesus opened their eyes, so let my eyes be opened to see Jesus!

Blindness

2011-11-04T08:05:00.000-05:00

The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!” [Matthew 27.39-40]

Blindness is the inability to see. But blindness is also the ability to physically "see" and yet fail to comprehend. Perhaps the latter of these is the one to fear most.

There will be a lot of things for which people will be ashamed on Judgment Day. If indeed the story of the Bible is accurate and true, then there will indeed be an event of reckoning in each and every individual's life.

And if indeed each and every soul will stand accountable, how unimaginably terrifying it will be for the one who looked the very Temple of God in the face not only failing to recognize Him, but ridiculing Him! Worse yet, how gut-wrenching will be the realization that this ridiculing soul earned his description by taunting Jesus' claim of "destroying and rebuilding the Temple" while witnessing Jesus actually in the process of "destroying and rebuilding" the Temple of God - His body.

Blindness will never be felt so profoundly as this.

Father, I know I look upon You in many different ways every day ...and fail to "see" You. Forgive me - give me eyes to see and ears to hear and a heart to understand.

I Believe

2011-11-03T06:26:00.000-05:00

The hours of Jesus' trials detailed in today's OYCB readings are worth considering. If the Bible is true and Jesus is indeed the Son of God, then perhaps this period of time would have to be considered the very pinnacle of all eternity.

As I understand it, even non-Biblical sources attest to Jesus' crucifixion - this event did take place. We are as sure of Jesus' life on earth as we are of any other ancient historical fact.

Somehow in my mind I want to bring my faith to the reality of flesh and blood and meditate deeply on the Man - the Son of God - Jesus.

Frankly, no other life has impacted the world on such a level as Jesus Christ. Even if one refuses to "believe," he is still hard pressed to concede this fact. Regardless of the spiritual ramifications of Jesus' life, His social impact is undeniably global.

Father, I am pretty much overwhelmed today by Jesus and His eternal impact on planet earth. Thank You for including me in Your plan! I believe!

Misplaced Confession

2011-11-02T07:49:00.003-05:00

“I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.” [Matthew 27.4 - Judas Iscariot]

After this confession, Judas committed suicide.

At no time in my lifetime of Sunday School and church attendance have I ever heard a positive message about Judas' confession here.

In light of Jesus own prophetic words about this event, it is clear that the man (Judas) who betrayed God's Son would not fair well. And, perhaps Jesus' words that this man would have been better off unborn seems to indicate that the fate of this man is one of eternal consequence.

Is there no positive message in Judas' confession?

Put in a different scenario, it is clear where Judas failed in his confession. Suppose a group of men rob a bank. Then suppose one of the men develops a conscience about it and tells his fellow robbers that he is sorry he participated. Unless the single robber confessed to the bank, then he has really accomplished nothing by confessing just to his partners in crime.

And so, Judas confessed to the wrong people (person). He should have sought Jesus' forgiveness.

So, perhaps simply being sorry is not enough. But being sorry to the right person is what counts.

Question: Had Judas actually confessed to Jesus, would he have enjoyed renewed fellowship and eternal life?

Father, I want to accurately understand this story of Judas' betrayal and apparent misplaced confession. And in understanding, I want to be sure of my own confession of sin toward You... Apart from Jesus' work on my behalf, I am worse than Judas.

Not That It Matters - But It Does

2011-11-01T08:21:00.000-05:00

Three of the Gospels record the event of Jesus praying in Gethsemane before He is betrayed. All three accounts are part of today's OYCB daily reading.

I find a question that begs to be answered in the three accounts of Jesus prayer: How did they know what Jesus said in that prayer? The bulk of Jesus' followers had stayed behind. Only Peter, James, and John proceeded further into the garden with Jesus. Today's Gospel accounts of this event all indicate the three were asleep.

Unlike Jesus' wilderness temptation where although alone He was later with His disciples and could have possibly told them about the event, this event in the garden of Gethsemane was followed by incarceration and crucifixion - no later time with the disciples!

So, who heard this prayer and passed it on to the Gospel writers if Jesus was alone during this time?

Father, help me to understand the events that took place in the Gospels. Likewise help me to understand how the information in the Gospels was transferred. Not that it matters - but it does.

Same Glory

2011-10-31T07:32:00.002-05:00

“I [Jesus] have given them [the disciples and those who believe through their message] the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. [John 17.22]

God's very glory is upon Jesus. It is by God's glory upon Him that He preached the gospel to the poor, healed the sick, and raised the dead while on this planet. Jesus operated in complete harmony with God the Father in bringing the Kingdom (God's will) on earth as it is in heaven.

Everything about Jesus' bodily tenure on planet Earth was about doing and teaching others to do God's will. The New Testament writers were very clear in conveying that Jesus repeatedly instructed His followers to "do as He had done."

More specifically, Jesus first taught His followers that He was doing God's will. Jesus mentioned over and again that He was merely doing what was being communicated to Him by the Father. Then, Jesus instructed His disciples to follow His own example of praying "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven..." and so hearing God's direction and then following through with it.

So much are we to follow Jesus' example that we have been been given His same glory to do so. We are no more limited than was Jesus - except if we do not believe...

So, why do we not see God's miraculous glory demonstrated today? Why has there been an evolution from Jesus' type ministry to a more contemporary and "acceptable" type of ministry?

Some would side with doctrines of man to say man's devotion to God is well and good but Jesus' type of ministry no longer exists today. Others would ashamedly contend that man is not actually obediently walking in the same glory as Jesus.

I tend to side with the latter of the two. However, the implications of this are quite damning to "church as we know it" mentality.

Father, help me to take seriously the model Jesus provided for me and help me to obediently follow in His steps.

Grace and Justice

2011-10-25T07:11:00.000-05:00

“But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply. Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are called, but few are chosen.” [Matthew 22.11-14]

Grace and justice both appear to be displayed in this parable told by Jesus.

While it is a great privilege to be called into the Kingdom of God, it is likewise a great responsibility.

Has modern Christianity focused too much upon the grace of God's calling and failed to warn of the justice associated with it?

This is worth staying mindful of throughout our lives and walk with God. It is easy to claim to know God. But it is another set of circumstances altogether to be claimed to be known by God.

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Have we failed to explore the real meaning of this statement?

There is no doubt that knowing God "clothes us" with a distinguishable "set of clothes."

Are we indeed wearing those clothes? Do we indeed know God?

Father, I realize it is simply not enough for me to declare that I know You.

Prayer, Lots of Prayer

2011-10-24T07:47:00.000-05:00

"My Temple will be called a house of prayer..." [Jesus]

Yet another proof of the importance of prayer.

If indeed believers are the Temple of God now that Jesus has opened the way to God through His sacrificial offering on our behalf, then Jesus' declaration here carries extreme importance.

Prayer should be the believer's identifying quality. How else could we be known as a "house of prayer?"

The truth today is that most Christians could better be defined as a house of work (for the good ones) and a house of entertainment for the less prudent. Worse yet, many could be accurately defined as a house of pleasure, a house of food, a house of activity, a house of exercise, ...and the list goes on and on.

What DOES it require to be labeled a "house of prayer?"

Prayer, lots of prayer.

One's life will require the practice of prayer above everything else in order to be "defined" as a house of prayer. Prayer must be the most consuming part of that life. Although the house of prayer may indeed be used for other functions, the main and characteristically identifying function of that house will be prayer.

I'm just going to stop now...

Father, I am truly not a house of prayer. You know and I know it. And, I know I need to change... please help me become a genuine house of prayer.

Over-Complicated Faith?

2011-10-22T08:21:00.000-05:00

“What do you want me [Jesus] to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!” And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” [Luke 18.41-42]

It strikes me odd today that this blind man's desire to see was called faith.

Have we over-complicated faith?

Father, I want to understand!

Word of God

2011-10-21T08:51:00.000-05:00

I've been taught all my life that The Bible IS the inspired Word of God.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. [II Timothy 3.16]

If this II Timothy passage is indeed correct, then consider the following passage in Deuteronomy (keep in mind that Deuteronomy is not just Scripture, but is part of the all-revered Pentateuch!):

“Suppose a man marries a woman but she does not please him. Having discovered something wrong with her, he writes her a letter of divorce, hands it to her, and sends her away from his house. [Deuteronomy 24.1]

Was Jesus saying in today's OYCB reading that Moses was NOT inspired by God to write his "concession" about divorce?

Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. [Matthew 19.8]

My question has nothing to do with divorce, but has everything to do with Jesus negating what is universally revered as Scripture (both then and now).

I fear that Christianity has made an idol of the Bible. I fear that Christianity has placed the book itself above the story of the book. I fear that Christianity has confined God to the limits of 'chapter and verse' in a book ironically in which we are taught to seek out the limitless "rhema" (living Word) of God.

I understand there are some fine lines here. I completely understand the perceived reverse ramifications of my stated fears. But I also see actual relationship with God (on a global level) suffering spiritual anemia because that relationship depends more on a relationship with a book than with the Living All-Supreme God of the book!

God's Word (His Living Word) is much bigger and much more comprehensive than any compiled set of writings about Him could ever contain. To make this point, I would argue that if the book could contain God, then the book would BE God. But that is not the case! NO! God is God and He alone is to be worshipped.

So am I saying the Bible should be moth-balled or scrapped? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Where else does man find the story of God and His love and interaction with mankind? The Bible introduces us to God. It is up to us to take the relationship beyond that.

The point I am making here ultimately makes prayer ever more important. Prayer is THE difference between powerless religion (albeit highly educated in the Scriptures) and an intimate dynamic personal and ever-loving relationship with the Creator of the Universe!

Perhaps this is why Jesus spoke so much about prayer...

Father, I am so thankful for Your Word - Your Living Word. Likewise I am grateful for the Bible as we know it today. Help Christians everywhere to take what is presented in the Bible and enter into a more intimate relationship with You. Let Your presence and Your power be manifested in those who take seriously friendship, servanthood, and Lordship in their relationship with You.

We Need Some Honest Answers

2011-10-20T08:22:00.001-05:00

One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’” Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” [Luke 18.1-8]

Here are the questions following Jesus' illustration of the unjust judge:

Do you think God will give justice to His own who cry out to Him constantly?
Will God keep putting off the requests of His people?
When Jesus returns to earth how many will He find who have faith?

Perhaps it is time we honestly answer these questions.

We must ask ourselves in all sincerity whether or not we actually believe God is just. The answer to the first question should be, "yes." However, based on my own experience and conversations with people, I hear a lot of talk but frankly am not convinced that people really believe God is just. I just don't find that confidence. My reasoning is based on the fact that so few people actually pray. Those who do, pray their "normal time" but it is comparatively nothing relative to the needs they pray for. If people genuinely believed in prayer and that God's justice was moved thereby, there would be a whole lot more prayer.

The second question reiterates the first, but approaches it from a more personal and less theological level. Perhaps the question could be asked like this, "Does God enjoy ignoring His people?" How about this, "Does God have some character trait that motivates Him to make His people beg?" Based on Jesus' firm and assuring response, the answer to His second question should always be "no." Sadly though, modern thinking and theology have concluded that God indeed "has His reasons..."

And this brings up the third and final question Jesus posed in his illustration. If God truly is just toward His own, and if God sincerely has no desire to ignore His people's requests, then, what is the problem? The answer is found in response to Jesus' third question, "Will Jesus find much or little faith upon His return?" Based on all I see around me, I must answer an overwhelming, "LITTLE!"

Maybe however, it's just me. Maybe I alone find it difficult to really believe that God is just. Perhaps it is only in my own heart that doubts exist as to God's motivation. And possibly it is only my story in which faith is painfully absent...

But I don't think I am alone.

But that still does not make it right.

Father, I need more than token prayer in my life. I need You. I need saturation in time with You. There are needs all around me that beg for more than "quiet time" prayer. God, help me to be honest first of all to myself and recognize these terrible shortcomings in me!

What A Condition!

2011-10-19T11:05:00.000-05:00

...you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. [Luke 14.33 - Jesus]

Sounds bad? The actual context only makes it worse.

Jesus put a condition upon following Him. What a condition!

Father, I am guessing this is not one-time decision, but a daily one...

Sarcasm?

2011-10-18T07:28:00.002-05:00

Jesus replied, “It is written in your own Scripturesthat God said to certain leaders of the people, ‘I say, you are gods!’ And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. [John 10.34-35a]

Was Jesus being sarcastic here?

Why did Jesus refer to the Scriptures as "your own Scriptures?" Why not just "the Scriptures" or "God's Word?"

Father, help me to more fully grasp the situations Jesus speaks from and into. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear!

A Reality (Just Ask the Blind Man)

2011-10-17T07:17:00.000-05:00

Then they cursed him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! We know God spoke to Moses, but we don’t even know where this man comes from.” “Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from? We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.” [John 9.28-33]

The religious leaders here had so boxed God into the life and teachings of Moses that they failed to see God in Jesus.

This discourse reveals a reality that I am certain we miss today.

Father, You know every thought I have refrained from writing here so as not to offend. But You also know my heart and the pain that I feel because we have so boxed You in to fit our religion. Speak Your Word to us Lord! Speak Your Word to me! And help us to recognize You, as did the blind man, regardless of what our religion may teach us! Forgive us, Father, for limiting You.

Light Seen or Light Sought?

2011-10-16T09:38:00.000-05:00

“Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is bad, your body is filled with darkness. Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.” [Luke 11.34-36]

Is Jesus saying that the things we look at make us good or bad? While that may be argued as the case It seems to me today that the meaning is a little deeper than that.

As I've tried to consider how to distinguish what I believe is being said here, it appears Jesus is not as much speaking of what we look at as much as it is what we look for. The contrast is therefore realized in circumstance (what we see) versus purpose (what we seek).

What is seen is unavoidable.

What is sought is intentional.

Regardless of doctrine or creed, one who seeks out darkness is filled with darkness. On the contrary then, one who seeks out light is filled with light - and that light radiates indiscrimintately upon all aspects of one's life. Jesus is talking about something very personal - something only the person himself can know. For all the teachings about one's relationship to others, here Jesus is speaking of what is going on within the person. He is speaking of something highly personal. Jesus reveals the indicator of that light's presence - radiance within.

At some point in every person's life, her or she will most likely desire that inner radiance.

That radiance (that personal peace with God and His universe) does not come from seeing the light (as so many do) but from seeking the light. There IS a difference.

Father, I want to understand more of what Jesus taught. I believe the depth of what You have for us is immeasurable - I want to go further, deeper...

Does Eternal Life Come From Jesus?

2011-10-15T10:16:00.002-05:00

One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” [Luke 10.25-37]

Is it just me, or does it seem odd that Jesus did not tell this inquiring man to "trust in Jesus" to inherit eternal life? Instead, Jesus confirmed that loving God and others achieves the goal of eternal life. Through the entire discourse Jesus leaves Himself out of the equation. Why? Does eternal come from Jesus or not?

I think if I were that man and Jesus had told me to do this, I would have had to say, "But Lord, I cannot do this! I've tried, but eventually and always fail!"

Is that precisely the response Jesus was eliciting ...but did not get? Did we witness yet another case of a man "not getting it?" And, did Jesus recognize this man's pride and self-sufficiency to actually think he could be good enough to inherit eternal life - and so, Jesus left him in his error? Instead of telling the man, "I can get you there if you only believe in Me," did Jesus just remain silent?

Is it furthermore possible that the story Jesus told this man about "loving your neighbor" was actually an actual event where this man was indeed one of the unloving characters in the story?

Wow, there are a lot of unanswered questions here. But from the beginning, God is asking questions, isn't He (Adam, where are you?). He doesn't offer the answer but leaves it up to us.

Father, I find no goal greater than to love You and to love mankind. It would seem that this goal is attached to salvation as an apple is attached to the tree. Salvation is in Jesus, and loving You and mankind is the fruit of that fact. The fruit cannot exist apart from the tree. The fruit must have the tree.

What Were They Saying?

2011-10-14T08:58:00.000-05:00

After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” For even his brothers didn’t believe in him. [John 7.1-5]

What a sad statement about Jesus' brothers. But what is interesting is that their statement was determined to be an indication of their lack of belief. On the surface, one would think that the brothers were actually acknowledging Jesus' power by their encouragement of Him to go to Judea. However, John's narrative here confirms their disbelief.

So, what were Jesus' brothers actually saying? Did they know that the Jewish leaders were plotting Jesus' death? Were they tempting Jesus as Satan tempted Him to show His glory? Were they just sick of all the controversy and wanted it to be over with? Were they seeking glory for themselves as His brothers?

Jesus was always willing to perform miracles for those in need. And yet, when coerced to do so by the curious thrill-seeking types or doubtfully challenging types, Jesus backed away.

I think there is a deep lesson here about destiny and humility.

Father, help me to understand what it is You are speaking to my heart regarding Jesus' fame...

Entitlement to God's Will

2011-10-13T08:30:00.000-05:00

“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector. “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. [Matthew 18.15-18]

Is Jesus promoting an entitlement here? "If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense..." It would seem that is precisely what Jesus is implying, that believers have the right to address an offense against them by another believer.

God's children are entitled to God's will. God's will is that heaven and earth be brought together in every situation.

So, its not all just "be a doormat" for everyone and every situation? This would depend entirely upon what is taking place in heaven... sickness? abuse? destruction? NOT.

What caught my eye however today is that Jesus repeated yet once again the whole "whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven..." statement. Jesus is obviously making a point that heaven and earth are to be brought together by His followers (believers).

The first time Jesus mentioned this type of statement was when He was teaching His men to pray, something to the effect of, "Your [God's] Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven..."

Then, we see a bit more detailed version in response to Peter's declaration of Jesus as Messiah, the Son of God, "...and upon this rock I [Jesus] will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” Here, Jesus is indicating that hell itself is powerless against His followers - another entitlement.

And in today's OYCB reading we see this heaven/earth entitlement regarding offenses between believers.

So, is Jesus teaching that, as believers, we have the right to bring heaven and earth together in any given circumstance? It is worth noting here that one doesn't have to worry about greed or pride in this scenario because neither exist in heaven. What believers do have to give attention to is the fact that Jesus said He would build His church - a process that obviously takes time and effort.

In today's OYCB we also find the aforementioned time and effort defined when Jesus' men could not cast out a demon. Jesus explained to them that they couldn't heal the boy (were unable to bring heaven and earth together) in this situation because they did not pray enough - they did not have enough faith. So, the time-and-effort process of Jesus building His church which enable heaven and earth to be brought together (faith) is achieved through prayer.

Father, help me to grasp what all I have experienced here today! And help me to PRAY as a result!

Harsh Words

2011-10-12T07:20:00.000-05:00

Then he [Jesus] asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” [Matthew 16.15-19]

All the powers of hell itself will not conquer God's bride, the church.

So, what is the church doing in the pitiful powerless condition it is in?

Harsh words? Yes, harsh indeed. However harsh words are appropriate for those who have been given the very power of heaven and yet fail to use it!

So-called Christ-followers are too busy playing church today rather than being the church. Instead of repenting for our gross negligence in what we forbid or allow on earth, we rather build our own theology to support our misgivings. Then we argue with others who built their own theology that differs from ours!

Father, please forgive me for walking in defeat when You have given me all the power of heaven itself.

Furthermore today, I realize there is a great rift over whether the church was to be built upon Peter or upon his confession of Jesus' Lordship. The very context of this setting should readily reveal the truth of the matter - that Peter had said something that got Jesus' attention. And, less we erroneously attribute the burden of the church being upon Peter (rather than upon his declaration), we are quickly enlightened to the fact that Jesus literally called Peter "Satan" shortly thereafter. I don't think Jesus would build His church upon Satan. Likewise I do not think Jesus would call someone "Satan" if that person was to be seen as the embodiment of the church.