Sunday, October 30, 2011

The Little Things...

Read Judges 2

So often we quarrel about the little things, we think they really don't matter. And generally speaking that is so true. But when reading through the book of Judges recently (and admittedly after reading through Joshua as well) it is quite clear the little things matter.

While preparing to speak at Hope's recent annual Men's Weekend retreat, it was clear studying Joshua's life and Israel's history that God cares about the little things. Time after time we see Israel missing the little things and consequences follow. When Moses chose to strike the rock instead of obeying God who told Moses to speak to the rock so that water would come out for the Israelites, Moses suffered the consequences. Then in Joshua when the Israelites didn't completely listen to God in Joshua 7 and 9, again consequences came when they skipped over the little things. Now in Judges we see Israel not following the little things God required of them.

Listen, what seems like little things to you and me are not so little to God. He is a holy, just, and righteous God who desires that our lives follow Him without skipping over the little things. We can all admit this is hard, but God doesn't call us to do what He doesn't equip us to do.

Spend time reading and learning from the mistakes made by the Israelites in Judges 2. And let's not skip over the little things in our lives but consider even these little things to be big in God's sight.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

The Word of God

Read Psalm 119:105-112

There's something Joshua, Jesus and Paul all had in common. Their ministry success was based on the word of God. Yes it's true others in scripture were committed and successful because they followed the word of God, but these three men specifically come to mind when one thinks of the word and its impact in their lives.

First their is Joshua. He is told as he is ready to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land the importance of the word of God. He's told in Joshua 1:8 - Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Jesus says in Mark 1:38 - Let us go somewhere else - to the nearby villages - so I can preach there also. That is why I have come. And Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:17 - For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel - not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

You see, over and over again we're told how the word of God is so important to our faith and to life. With the word of God we are given direction and purpose. It also tells us everything we need to know (note - not everthing there is to know).

Take time this week and spend time in His word. We all have our own ideas and thoughts and yet God wants us following His. We do this best when we are in the word which gives us what we need when we need it.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

From Alienation to Reconciliation

Read Colossians 1:21-23

The gospel is mentioned throughout the New Testament; by Jesus and His followers. But really what is it? What's the message of the gospel?

While in seminary one professor referenced 1 Corinthians 15 where the Apostle Paul writes the gospel is about Jesus' life, death, burial and resurrection as a great passage to help explain what the gospel is. And for years it's been where I've turned for perhaps one of the best explanations of what the gospel is all about. However, the other day I read Colossians 1:21-23 and saw something perhaps even better (if that's even possible to compare one part of scripture as "better" than another).

Paul writes to the Christians at Colosse and says the gospel is simply this - before you came to know Jesus as the forgiver of your sins and leader of your lives you were alienated, living as enemies of Christ because of our evil and sinful behavior. But now God has reconciled our relationship with God by the physical death of Jesus. He writes anyone who believes this is "holy in his sight" because by faith we've accepted Jesus' work on the cross, His paying for our sins sacrifically what we could never pay by our own effort.

Friends this is the gospel that was proclaimed in Jesus and Paul's day; and it's this gospel we are to share today with every creature under heaven. Listen, God desires that no one should perish and experience eternal separation from Him. So let's be part of sharing this message so all mankind can go from alienation to reconciliation with our heavenly Father.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

My Soul Sings

Read Psalm 57

What is it that makes your heart sing? Do you know what I mean? What is it that lifts you up and gives you a sense of hope and possibility even when your circumstances appear to be calling for doubt and frustration?

The Psalmist in Psalm 57 gives us great wisdom. He gives us direction to trust in God in our troubles and to allow our soul to sing the praises of God Most High. Psalm 57:2 tells us to cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me. Think about that. It is God's purpose for us that He is working out in our lives. He sends His love and his faithfulness at all times, no matter what. And while verse six describes people spreading traps to trip us up, ultimately they will receive their due; their own traps will ensnare them.

We are called to be steadfast - like a rock, unwavering in times of trouble because our trust is in the One who can be trusted. Will you praise Him in your storm? Will you exalt His Holy name, desiring His holy name and glory to reign over your life? No one is immune from the trappings of life, where people are attacking our character, our faith, our families, and even our God. But when we wake up every morning and commit to live with the response - My Soul Sings - we can face everything because our trust in God rises above all these trappings in life. Allow your soul to sing His praises when you face trouble. Allow your soul to sing when people try and trip you up. And allow your soul to sing because our God is greater than everything we face; He has a purpose for our lives and He deserves our praise. Father God receive our praise this week. Amen!

Sunday, October 2, 2011

What's Our Ministry?

Read 2 Corinthians 5:11-21

Second Corinthians 5:11-21 answers the question what's our ministry. It tells us we are to be in ministry trying to persuade people to fear the Lord. This phrase fear the Lord is familiar in the Old Testament and conveys the image of awe and reverence. It's about putting God first in our lives and then being compelled by Christ's love, living for Him.

Writing to the Corinthian believers in this second letter, Paul reminds them and ultimately us that we are not to regard anyone from a worldly point of view. Instead since we ourselves are a new creation because of our faith in Jesus Christ, we are to be compelled by the same love Jesus has for us. Compelled to love others so much that we are God's ambassadors willing to do whatever it takes to help others in this world know what God's word says. In other words, since we have been reconciled to God (since we now have a right relationship with God because of faith in Jesus) we are to help others be reconciled as well.

Listen, our ministry is simple - preach and teach and model Jesus Christ. Motivated by Jesus' love for us, we are to love others in this world so much that our ministry is to persuade people to come into a reconciled relationship with God through faith in Christ.

Will this ministry be easy? No. Will it be received by everyone? No. Will our ministry glorify God? Yes. Because we are living for Him and doing what He has asked us to do, helping people become rightly related to our living God as we learn to place our faith and trust in Jesus as the forgiver of our sins and leader of our lives.