Read Joshua 1:8
I don't know about you, but the older I get the less I remember. With me, the worst is names. I may even know your name, we might have known each other for years and years but if I'm in need of instantly recalling your name at times, I got nothing. I can't remember names or they come more slowly than they used to. What about you? How's your memory? Are you able to remember details of your childhood? What about important places and dates? How about lessons you've learned over the years?
My suspicion is we all have the ability to remember, but maybe we don't take the time to train ourselves to do so. I know with me I'm supposed to be taking certain vitamins to help with my memory and you know what? You guessed it - I forget to take them. However, if I was promised $1,000 every day I took those little pills you better believe I wouldn't forget. How about you?
Here's the thing, we remember what's most important to us. Bottom line, that's the truth. I can tell you things that I really shouldn't be able to remember but I'm able to because they hold a certain significance to me. And you can do the same.
God in His word has something to say about what's important for all of us to remember. Read Joshua 1:8. As Joshua is going into the Promised Land he's told not to let the Book of the Law depart from his mouth. He should know God's word so well that he's able to speak it with clarity as he leads God's people. And God tells him the way to remember the Law is to meditate on it every day and every night. Friends, we all meditate everyday. It's called worry. Whatever captures our attention is what we go over and over again in our mind. That's meditation. So Joshua's told to go over and over again in his mind the word of God. Why? Two reasons are given. First, so he will be assured that knowing the word he will be careful to do everything written in the Law. Second, he will be successful. I don't know anyone who wants to fail.
Let's take the time to begin training our minds on the word of God. Take some time this week and memorize Joshua 1:8. It's a great place to start and after you've committed it to memory, continue. Continue finding verses, even passages, of scripture that will help you walk with God every day and every night.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Under Construction
Read Deuteronomy 7:9
Recently we've been working with some contractors and getting different quotes on a few jobs we are having done at our home. These are different types of jobs but jobs that for the most part have needed to be done since we moved in. When I asked my wife why we didn't do these sooner she reminded me that while we've been in our "new" home for ten years this summer that our home has been under construction pretty much since day one. So I began to think about all the jobs we've worked on together over the years and you know what? She's right - we have done a lot of work on this house. Kind of reminds us when we were buying the house of the words of our realtor who said this house has potential (word of caution to any buying a new home - this means it has a lot of work to be done).
Anyway, when I think of the work we've done or the work we've had done by others I'm reminded that some jobs I was really looking forward to having done and finishing while others I was like who can get excited about a new roof or installing new drywall after ripping out the old and/or stripping wall paper. And I can't help but think about the parallel between our homes and our hearts. God has had our hearts under construction since the day we met Him personally. There's things in our lives that we're excited to see what God is going to do but then there's those areas where we'd rather not go there if you know what I mean. Maybe for some it's bitterness and maybe for others it's forgiveness, while others might be dealing with issues of the heart that pertain to a broken relationship - like a marriage or a parent/child relationship or maybe a friend who is hurting because of an addiction. Whatever it is, God is in the construction business. His desire is to build us up with courage and strength to face together with Him whatever it is we need to face.
Friends, please read Deuteronomy 7:9. And this week just meditate on this about our amazing God. He is always faithful and always keeps His word to those who follow Him.
Father - we thank you for your faithfulness to us. Help us be faithful followers of you. We know we are always under construction and we thank you for this because we are your children who you call to be holy. May we live life for you knowing your good purpose and plan for every one of us is to bring glory to your great name!!
Recently we've been working with some contractors and getting different quotes on a few jobs we are having done at our home. These are different types of jobs but jobs that for the most part have needed to be done since we moved in. When I asked my wife why we didn't do these sooner she reminded me that while we've been in our "new" home for ten years this summer that our home has been under construction pretty much since day one. So I began to think about all the jobs we've worked on together over the years and you know what? She's right - we have done a lot of work on this house. Kind of reminds us when we were buying the house of the words of our realtor who said this house has potential (word of caution to any buying a new home - this means it has a lot of work to be done).
Anyway, when I think of the work we've done or the work we've had done by others I'm reminded that some jobs I was really looking forward to having done and finishing while others I was like who can get excited about a new roof or installing new drywall after ripping out the old and/or stripping wall paper. And I can't help but think about the parallel between our homes and our hearts. God has had our hearts under construction since the day we met Him personally. There's things in our lives that we're excited to see what God is going to do but then there's those areas where we'd rather not go there if you know what I mean. Maybe for some it's bitterness and maybe for others it's forgiveness, while others might be dealing with issues of the heart that pertain to a broken relationship - like a marriage or a parent/child relationship or maybe a friend who is hurting because of an addiction. Whatever it is, God is in the construction business. His desire is to build us up with courage and strength to face together with Him whatever it is we need to face.
Friends, please read Deuteronomy 7:9. And this week just meditate on this about our amazing God. He is always faithful and always keeps His word to those who follow Him.
Father - we thank you for your faithfulness to us. Help us be faithful followers of you. We know we are always under construction and we thank you for this because we are your children who you call to be holy. May we live life for you knowing your good purpose and plan for every one of us is to bring glory to your great name!!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
It's His Goodness...
Read Deuteronomy 9
Are we there yet? How many of us have heard this question, asked this question when going on a long trip? Then we can imagine the Israelites as we read Deuteronomy 9 asking this same question - are we there yet.
Friends, what I want us to focus on after we've read this chapter in Israel's history is the discussion in verse 4 and following where God let's Israel know He is driving out the inhabitants of Canaan (the Promised Land) because of their wickedness and that they are not to think (verse 6) that it has anything to do with Israel's righteousness. You see God then goes on to explain how Israel since the time they left Egypt had been rebellious. He reminds them of their disobedience and lack of trust in Him as their good God. Please don't miss this - God is revealing that they too are a wicked nation. However, it is He who chose Israel to be His people and Moses goes to bat in defense of Israel. Not because they are deserving; but because of who God is He pleads with God for their redemption.
Only when we know the goodness of God like Moses can we truly trust Him. You see, Moses was able to pray for Israel and approach God based on what He knew about God. He knew God is a just God, but He also knew God is a good God. He knew God so well that he was able to trust Him with Israel's future.
And this needs to be true with us. We are rebellious - just like Israel. We are prone to go our own way, do our own thing because at the end of the day we are often at odds with God in our attitudes and actions. But God wants us to know Him so well that we learn to trust that what He asks of us is ALWAYS good for us. It's His Goodness we need come to know and love. And it's important that we know how to come to know His goodness. Psalm 34:8 says taste and see that the Lord is good.
Do you know the goodness of God? Have you been witness to His goodness in your life? Let me encourage you to take time and simply consider how good God has been to you. No matter what we face, when we take time we can see it; we can see His goodness. He's good because of who He is and not because of what He does. But what He does gives us plenty to draw on to see His absolute goodness. Consider His unconditional love for you; consider His unwavering devotion to us in spite of sometimes we are not unwavering in our devotion to Him; and consider how good it is that He wants to have a growing and loving relationship with each one of us.
Are we there yet? How many of us have heard this question, asked this question when going on a long trip? Then we can imagine the Israelites as we read Deuteronomy 9 asking this same question - are we there yet.
Friends, what I want us to focus on after we've read this chapter in Israel's history is the discussion in verse 4 and following where God let's Israel know He is driving out the inhabitants of Canaan (the Promised Land) because of their wickedness and that they are not to think (verse 6) that it has anything to do with Israel's righteousness. You see God then goes on to explain how Israel since the time they left Egypt had been rebellious. He reminds them of their disobedience and lack of trust in Him as their good God. Please don't miss this - God is revealing that they too are a wicked nation. However, it is He who chose Israel to be His people and Moses goes to bat in defense of Israel. Not because they are deserving; but because of who God is He pleads with God for their redemption.
Only when we know the goodness of God like Moses can we truly trust Him. You see, Moses was able to pray for Israel and approach God based on what He knew about God. He knew God is a just God, but He also knew God is a good God. He knew God so well that he was able to trust Him with Israel's future.
And this needs to be true with us. We are rebellious - just like Israel. We are prone to go our own way, do our own thing because at the end of the day we are often at odds with God in our attitudes and actions. But God wants us to know Him so well that we learn to trust that what He asks of us is ALWAYS good for us. It's His Goodness we need come to know and love. And it's important that we know how to come to know His goodness. Psalm 34:8 says taste and see that the Lord is good.
Do you know the goodness of God? Have you been witness to His goodness in your life? Let me encourage you to take time and simply consider how good God has been to you. No matter what we face, when we take time we can see it; we can see His goodness. He's good because of who He is and not because of what He does. But what He does gives us plenty to draw on to see His absolute goodness. Consider His unconditional love for you; consider His unwavering devotion to us in spite of sometimes we are not unwavering in our devotion to Him; and consider how good it is that He wants to have a growing and loving relationship with each one of us.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Blessed Revelation
Read Revelation 1:1-3
The book of Revelation is either loved or hated. We're either hot and bothered by it's contents or we're luke warm to it. What I'd suggest is before we make up our minds about being indifferent to the writings of Revelation that we read Revelation 1:1-3 first.
We're told in verse three that everyone who reads these words of this prophecy is blessed when they hear the words and takes to heart what is written in it because the time is near. You see I know so many people who simply want to settle for themselves that Revelation says Jesus is coming back and that's all that really matters. While that's true, He is coming back and that is what really matters, it's not all that really matters. It's very clear the revelation John received and recorded is about the consummation of all things and those who make reading and taking to hear Revelation are blessed!
Friends we all know prophecy can be extremely difficult to read and understand. But with this promise of blessing it's most definitely a book that's worth reading. Let's take the time to know ALL of God's word; ALL of His promises: and ALL of His plans for human history. While it won't be easy, it will be worth it. Take some time, little by little and read the book that promises blessing. Take some time and take to heart what God has for all who desire to know God fully by reading and taking to heart EVERYTHING He has to say to each and everyone of us.
The book of Revelation is either loved or hated. We're either hot and bothered by it's contents or we're luke warm to it. What I'd suggest is before we make up our minds about being indifferent to the writings of Revelation that we read Revelation 1:1-3 first.
We're told in verse three that everyone who reads these words of this prophecy is blessed when they hear the words and takes to heart what is written in it because the time is near. You see I know so many people who simply want to settle for themselves that Revelation says Jesus is coming back and that's all that really matters. While that's true, He is coming back and that is what really matters, it's not all that really matters. It's very clear the revelation John received and recorded is about the consummation of all things and those who make reading and taking to hear Revelation are blessed!
Friends we all know prophecy can be extremely difficult to read and understand. But with this promise of blessing it's most definitely a book that's worth reading. Let's take the time to know ALL of God's word; ALL of His promises: and ALL of His plans for human history. While it won't be easy, it will be worth it. Take some time, little by little and read the book that promises blessing. Take some time and take to heart what God has for all who desire to know God fully by reading and taking to heart EVERYTHING He has to say to each and everyone of us.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Make Him Known
Read Isaiah 43:1-13
One of my favorite TV shows is Law and Order. While I enjoy the investigation into the crime, what I enjoy most is the court room drama. I love it when the prosecuting or defense attorney is questioning the witnesses involved in the case. The key for both sides is to get the truth out of each witness so justice will be served.
When it comes to the Bible, we're told a lot about the importance of Israel in the Old Testament and disciples in the New Testament and how we're supposed to be God's witnesses in this world. Read Isaiah 43:1-13 and you'll see how our purpose is to know God and make Him known in this world. In Acts 1:8 Jesus says right before He ascends into Heaven that as His followers we will be His witnesses. So that leads us to the question - what's a witness?
A witness is simply someone who testifies (tells the truth) about what they know. Now as God's witness in this world our testimony comes from what we know to be the truth about God. Logic demands that we'll get to know God very well by spending time with Him. How is it you enjoy spending time with God? Some enjoy being with God on a long prayer walk; others enjoy being with God alone with Him, reading His word the Bible; and others enjoy being with other disciples, followers of Christ in various ways but worshiping Him as they are together. Whatever your way is, however you enjoy spending time with God, do so more and more! And as you grow in your knowledge of Him remember we are His witnesses. So let's make Him known!
One of my favorite TV shows is Law and Order. While I enjoy the investigation into the crime, what I enjoy most is the court room drama. I love it when the prosecuting or defense attorney is questioning the witnesses involved in the case. The key for both sides is to get the truth out of each witness so justice will be served.
When it comes to the Bible, we're told a lot about the importance of Israel in the Old Testament and disciples in the New Testament and how we're supposed to be God's witnesses in this world. Read Isaiah 43:1-13 and you'll see how our purpose is to know God and make Him known in this world. In Acts 1:8 Jesus says right before He ascends into Heaven that as His followers we will be His witnesses. So that leads us to the question - what's a witness?
A witness is simply someone who testifies (tells the truth) about what they know. Now as God's witness in this world our testimony comes from what we know to be the truth about God. Logic demands that we'll get to know God very well by spending time with Him. How is it you enjoy spending time with God? Some enjoy being with God on a long prayer walk; others enjoy being with God alone with Him, reading His word the Bible; and others enjoy being with other disciples, followers of Christ in various ways but worshiping Him as they are together. Whatever your way is, however you enjoy spending time with God, do so more and more! And as you grow in your knowledge of Him remember we are His witnesses. So let's make Him known!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
The Blessed Life
Read Matthew 5:1-13
Everyone wants to be happy. Years ago there was even a song about it - I think the title was Don't Worry Be Happy. And what's true today about this pursuit of happiness was true in Jesus' day as well.
Jesus' teaching, His sermon in Matthew 5 was something new. It was something different than what the crowds were accustomed to hearing. They were used to hearing messages from the Pharisees, so it's important when we read Jesus' Sermon on the Mount to keep this in mind. Jesus desired to teach the truth about the Kingdom of God and how individuals could enter God's kingdom. So he talks about how they could have a blessed life by giving the people what a righteous God expects from his people in the Kingdom.
The person rightly related to the King is repeatedly described as "blessed". This word comes from the Latin word beatus, meaning "blessed" or "happy". This is why the blessings in Matthew 5 are called the beatitudes. And Jesus knows as He's speaking that this crowd He's talking to is interested in the good life. But His message is intended to bring clarity to what the good and happy life is all about. You see this world tells us something different than what God would tell us about happiness.
The blessings Jesus speaks of to the crowd tells of people who are at peace with God, their neighbor and himself/herself. The follower of Jesus, His disciples, have an abiding sense of peace because they are informed of several promises: he will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven (5:3), expects to be comforted (5:4), looks forward to a certain future on earth (5:5), anticipates the satisfaction of justice and righteousness (5:6), awaits the granting of mercy (5:7), knows he will live with God as His child (5:8), and will be greatly rewarded in heaven (5:11-12). One commentator says it this way, "The Beatitudes pronounce those blessed, or happy, who fulfill these six standards of the kingdom in character and experience." So the disciple can be happy in this life and live as Jesus says as salt and light (5:13-16) knowing this fulfilling Kingdom future awaits every disciple of Jesus.
Friends we all want a blessed life. So let's start by getting our message from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount what it truly means to be happy in this life and the life to come. God's blessings!!
Everyone wants to be happy. Years ago there was even a song about it - I think the title was Don't Worry Be Happy. And what's true today about this pursuit of happiness was true in Jesus' day as well.
Jesus' teaching, His sermon in Matthew 5 was something new. It was something different than what the crowds were accustomed to hearing. They were used to hearing messages from the Pharisees, so it's important when we read Jesus' Sermon on the Mount to keep this in mind. Jesus desired to teach the truth about the Kingdom of God and how individuals could enter God's kingdom. So he talks about how they could have a blessed life by giving the people what a righteous God expects from his people in the Kingdom.
The person rightly related to the King is repeatedly described as "blessed". This word comes from the Latin word beatus, meaning "blessed" or "happy". This is why the blessings in Matthew 5 are called the beatitudes. And Jesus knows as He's speaking that this crowd He's talking to is interested in the good life. But His message is intended to bring clarity to what the good and happy life is all about. You see this world tells us something different than what God would tell us about happiness.
The blessings Jesus speaks of to the crowd tells of people who are at peace with God, their neighbor and himself/herself. The follower of Jesus, His disciples, have an abiding sense of peace because they are informed of several promises: he will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven (5:3), expects to be comforted (5:4), looks forward to a certain future on earth (5:5), anticipates the satisfaction of justice and righteousness (5:6), awaits the granting of mercy (5:7), knows he will live with God as His child (5:8), and will be greatly rewarded in heaven (5:11-12). One commentator says it this way, "The Beatitudes pronounce those blessed, or happy, who fulfill these six standards of the kingdom in character and experience." So the disciple can be happy in this life and live as Jesus says as salt and light (5:13-16) knowing this fulfilling Kingdom future awaits every disciple of Jesus.
Friends we all want a blessed life. So let's start by getting our message from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount what it truly means to be happy in this life and the life to come. God's blessings!!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Going too far
Read Numbers 16:1-35
Turn on the news today and you'd be hard pressed to not come across news of conflict. Conflicts exist all over the world today and we can hardly get through the first few minutes of any newscast and not find ourselves listening to conflict where one or more of the parties involved had gone too far.
Take a look at Numbers 16 and early on in the third verse we find this newsflash of conflict between the community leaders of Israel coming out and having one of the first recorded public protests known to man. There were 250 community leaders coming out in opposition to Moses and Aaron. Their claim against Moses and Aaron was this - "You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord's assembly?"
Moses and Aaron didn't take these charges lightly. They responded with a coming challenge from God who will make it clear we're told who is holy. They replied to these community leaders - "You Levites have gone too far!"
Reading the rest of the story we see God making it clear who is holy and who is not. The long and short of this story is this - those who are holy follow God. It's that simple. These community leaders were challenging God's anointed leaders. These community leaders were challenging God's divine direction for His people. And ultimately what happens is God pronounces judgment on these 250 men who were consumed by fire.
It is often difficult to connect Biblical stories to our daily lives, especially when it comes from the Old Testament book of Numbers. But the connection of this story to our lives is clear to see. What we need to remember from this story in our lives I believe is this - God wants us living holy lives, trusting His plan instead of our own. God wants us to know at some point if we're not careful we can go too far; we can go outside of God's will and if we do there are consequences. Again, make no mistake about it, consequences surround us but they are not always immediate. Think about it, some of our everyday behaviors may be dangerous and not safe for us but we don't always experience immediate consequences. Here's an example: ever drive through an intersection and realize --- oooopppsss, the light was red? I've done it, kind of zoned out and missed the light was red. And you know what happened? I was fortunate. No one was coming through the intersection at the same time I ran the light, so I was spared the natural immediate consequence. But if I continue to run red lights, my chances of a major accident increase dramatically.
Here's the point friends - live today realizing that at some point we can go too far outside of God's plans and consequences will follow. God wants us to be holy because He is holy. Read stories like Numbers 16 and connect the timeless truth to our lives personally and know God is a just God.
Turn on the news today and you'd be hard pressed to not come across news of conflict. Conflicts exist all over the world today and we can hardly get through the first few minutes of any newscast and not find ourselves listening to conflict where one or more of the parties involved had gone too far.
Take a look at Numbers 16 and early on in the third verse we find this newsflash of conflict between the community leaders of Israel coming out and having one of the first recorded public protests known to man. There were 250 community leaders coming out in opposition to Moses and Aaron. Their claim against Moses and Aaron was this - "You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord's assembly?"
Moses and Aaron didn't take these charges lightly. They responded with a coming challenge from God who will make it clear we're told who is holy. They replied to these community leaders - "You Levites have gone too far!"
Reading the rest of the story we see God making it clear who is holy and who is not. The long and short of this story is this - those who are holy follow God. It's that simple. These community leaders were challenging God's anointed leaders. These community leaders were challenging God's divine direction for His people. And ultimately what happens is God pronounces judgment on these 250 men who were consumed by fire.
It is often difficult to connect Biblical stories to our daily lives, especially when it comes from the Old Testament book of Numbers. But the connection of this story to our lives is clear to see. What we need to remember from this story in our lives I believe is this - God wants us living holy lives, trusting His plan instead of our own. God wants us to know at some point if we're not careful we can go too far; we can go outside of God's will and if we do there are consequences. Again, make no mistake about it, consequences surround us but they are not always immediate. Think about it, some of our everyday behaviors may be dangerous and not safe for us but we don't always experience immediate consequences. Here's an example: ever drive through an intersection and realize --- oooopppsss, the light was red? I've done it, kind of zoned out and missed the light was red. And you know what happened? I was fortunate. No one was coming through the intersection at the same time I ran the light, so I was spared the natural immediate consequence. But if I continue to run red lights, my chances of a major accident increase dramatically.
Here's the point friends - live today realizing that at some point we can go too far outside of God's plans and consequences will follow. God wants us to be holy because He is holy. Read stories like Numbers 16 and connect the timeless truth to our lives personally and know God is a just God.
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