Revelation 2:12-17 The Church In Pergamum
Have you ever just felt oppressed spiritually? Maybe it was a place you entered and you just felt like your skin was crawling and you had to get out. Maybe it was surrounding a movie or an event or even a person and you just had this strange feeling come over you and you had to leave or get away, quick.
Imagine living in the hometown of Satan. If Satan and his demons are like a gang, they hold their territory very well. They are very protective of it and will come against anything or anyone that tries to push them out.
Maybe you know what it's like to be the property of Satan. To be in his territory or be a part of his gang. Now maybe you didn't swear a blood oath with a chicken head, but you did live apart from Jesus and in line with the devil and his ways. Perhaps Satan ensnared you with an addiction years ago and it's hold on you has been difficult, if not proven impossible up to this point, to be free of. Maybe he snared you with an unplanned pregnancy and a marriage to someone you never intended to be with for more than one night. When you live in Satan's wheelhouse it's oppressive.
That's the situation for the church in Pergamum. They lived "where Satan has his throne." Satan's realm is earth, he is confined here. He is also unable to be everywhere present, as God is and he doesn't know everything, as God does. He also is not all-powerful like God is. That means that Satan must have, on this earth somewhere, a base of operations from which to attack, destroy, kill, maim and steal. Where that was, Pergamum was right in the middle of it.
Imagine trying to to plant a church in such a spiritually dark place. There is only one word that can describe it, oppressive. The church in Pergamum not only existed here but they struggled to thrive, to remain true to the Name of Jesus to not renounce their faith even in the face of fierce opposition that resulted in the martyrdom of a man named Antipas who was killed because of his faith in opposition to Satan on his own territory.
Though they remained true to the Name of Jesus in this dark place they struggled so much with oppression that they let some other things slide. Namely, they begin to think that as long as they didn't renounce the name of Jesus or their faith even if they were enticed to dabble in the sexually immoral practices of those surrounding them in the city it was okay.
You know the draw, to attend church, give your offerings maybe even serve a little, claim to be a Christian but then actively participate in sin. You know you shouldn't but it's not a big deal, others are doing it you're sure so it's okay. Oppression works that way you know. Tempting you to give a little and then sinking it's hooks in and causing you to sink further and further into it. Soon you're living a double life, pretending to be a follower of Jesus, but acting like a follower of Satan.
Look, I get it. I'm inundated with sexual explicit material all the time. It's not always easy to avoid or even to stop. And that is really the struggle, sin never stops. Satan never takes a day off. He never leaves you alone.
If you're struggling with oppression remember that comes only from the enemy. Satan wants to keep you oppressed because you're easier to control that way. He wants to convince you that as long as you live like a Christian on the weekend you live like a sinner during the week. The Church in Pergamum certainly knew what this was like.
Take a minute to read this passage in Genesis 4. I had to go way back to just the second sin ever committed. Satan's kingdom was still the earth at this time but there were far fewer people for him to focus on. He was able to oppress Adam and Eve's oldest son Cain into seeing his brother Abel as a threat. He oppressed Cain with envy and jealousy and fear. Cain eventually killed his brother Abel, but before he did God had a conversation with him in verses 6-7 that may do you well to read today.
Thoughts on the Bible, Church, life and living it to its full potential in Jesus Christ!
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
What's Your Struggle? Financial
Revelation 2:8-11 The Church in Smyrna
Do you know what it's like to be broke? I do. There was a time in the early years of planting Real Life that I didn't make any money. In fact, when the economy crashed we lost our home to the bank. It was a devastating time in our lives. I questioned everything I thought God had called me to do here in ElDorado. My life, ministry, direction, decisions... everything. Isn't strange how a lack of financial resources will make you question life more than just about any other situation or challenge?
The church in Smyrna knew this all too well. They were in such a terrible financial place Jesus says, I know your afflictions and your poverty. That's not where anyone wants to be. What's worse, perhaps because of their poverty, there were Jews there that slandered the church. They said that because the church was poor they weren't really following God. That was a common misconception in Jesus day (and today), that financial blessing and abundance follows faithful service. I think the Apostles would disagree with that. They were often broke, destitute and struggling without adequate financial resources. But being poor also puts you at a disadvantage because often people believe that, because of your situation, they can exploit you, ridicule you, treat you badly or even persecute you simply because of your position. You have nothing, so they can offer scraps and expect you to be grateful and happy with that.
This is a great struggle for churches today. Especially when they see the mega church down the street with money to burn and they feel inadequate and can begin to feel that God doesn't love them or what they are doing in the Kingdom as much as the bigger churches. This church was in a bad spot, financial burdens within and slander and oppression from without. It was maybe because of their poor financial position that the Jews felt it was okay to go so far as to persecute them.
This is a big struggle for Church people as well as non-church people. Poverty and affliction are followed closely by depression. You look around at others in church and notice what they have and what you lack. Those "with" can begin to believe it's because they are living right that God is blessing them. Many a rich person has gotten to their eternal destination surprised because they thought they were doing everything right based on what they had in this life. On the other hand, if you don't have financial resources you can begin to feel as though there is something wrong with your service, your life, your devotion to God. While giving/tithing do a play a part in our financial success it's important to remember that financial success is not the litmus test for faithful followers. Nowhere in the Bible is financial blessing tied to righteous living, again, ask the Apostles about this.
Jesus encouragement to the church is not to strive more or do more or be more, it is simply to endure for a short time more in order to receive the reward.
If you're smuggling with a lack of financial resources God wants you to know that in His sight you are rich. What is going on in your life on earth is not indicative of what is happening in the heavenly realms. Your poverty here may be exposing your riches there. Check out James 1:2-4 and be encouraged that through these temporary struggles you are being made mature, complete and lacking nothing. In fact, the poor should take pride in their high position... (while you're in James read verses 9-10 too!).
Do you know what it's like to be broke? I do. There was a time in the early years of planting Real Life that I didn't make any money. In fact, when the economy crashed we lost our home to the bank. It was a devastating time in our lives. I questioned everything I thought God had called me to do here in ElDorado. My life, ministry, direction, decisions... everything. Isn't strange how a lack of financial resources will make you question life more than just about any other situation or challenge?
The church in Smyrna knew this all too well. They were in such a terrible financial place Jesus says, I know your afflictions and your poverty. That's not where anyone wants to be. What's worse, perhaps because of their poverty, there were Jews there that slandered the church. They said that because the church was poor they weren't really following God. That was a common misconception in Jesus day (and today), that financial blessing and abundance follows faithful service. I think the Apostles would disagree with that. They were often broke, destitute and struggling without adequate financial resources. But being poor also puts you at a disadvantage because often people believe that, because of your situation, they can exploit you, ridicule you, treat you badly or even persecute you simply because of your position. You have nothing, so they can offer scraps and expect you to be grateful and happy with that.
This is a great struggle for churches today. Especially when they see the mega church down the street with money to burn and they feel inadequate and can begin to feel that God doesn't love them or what they are doing in the Kingdom as much as the bigger churches. This church was in a bad spot, financial burdens within and slander and oppression from without. It was maybe because of their poor financial position that the Jews felt it was okay to go so far as to persecute them.
This is a big struggle for Church people as well as non-church people. Poverty and affliction are followed closely by depression. You look around at others in church and notice what they have and what you lack. Those "with" can begin to believe it's because they are living right that God is blessing them. Many a rich person has gotten to their eternal destination surprised because they thought they were doing everything right based on what they had in this life. On the other hand, if you don't have financial resources you can begin to feel as though there is something wrong with your service, your life, your devotion to God. While giving/tithing do a play a part in our financial success it's important to remember that financial success is not the litmus test for faithful followers. Nowhere in the Bible is financial blessing tied to righteous living, again, ask the Apostles about this.
Jesus encouragement to the church is not to strive more or do more or be more, it is simply to endure for a short time more in order to receive the reward.
If you're smuggling with a lack of financial resources God wants you to know that in His sight you are rich. What is going on in your life on earth is not indicative of what is happening in the heavenly realms. Your poverty here may be exposing your riches there. Check out James 1:2-4 and be encouraged that through these temporary struggles you are being made mature, complete and lacking nothing. In fact, the poor should take pride in their high position... (while you're in James read verses 9-10 too!).
Thursday, November 12, 2015
What's Your Struggle? Being Right
It seems that a lot of people in and around my life are struggling with different things right now. Marriages are on the verge of destruction or already there. People are struggling with living in their own weaknesses and why they can't "just get over it." There are financial struggles and interpersonal struggles and family strife and job headaches. These things aren't new, nor are they going away anytime soon - unless Jesus comes back.
These same struggles have been going on for millennia. Why? Because they work. They keep us distracted, they keep us focused on ourselves or our situation instead of on Jesus, on His power, on His Way.
My Bible reading today was Revelation 2 and it just so happened that I got a text while I was reading... I didn't respond to it, but saved it for when I was done. Turns out, the Holy Spirit had prepared that text and today's reading to come together for a little freedom. Let me share with you what I mean.
In Revelation 2 the Apostle John is writing to several churches who are having some struggles. I'll bet you find at least one of these churches that resonates with your own struggles. I've included some additional Scriptures that can teach you how to handle each struggle as it comes your way. In faith and the strength of the Holy Spirit in you, you can overcome just as the churches in these letters were encouraged to overcome, to press on, to repent and to follow.
So what I'm going to do is share one of these letters a day until we get through them next week. I hope that by seeing what the churches in the first century were struggling with and how you might overcome, or stand up through, those struggles you will be encouraged.
Revelation 2:1-7 The Church In Ephesus
This church was praised for their deeds, hard work, perseverance their unwillingness to tolerate wicked people among them and their strong adherence to the Word of God by testing those itinerant preachers who came to them against the Word they had already received. All these are good things. Solid things. Biblical things. But Jesus, through John, says that this same Biblically solid church has forsaken the love they had at first.
I think the church in Ephesus struggled with being so focused on doing everything right that they forgot to love.
It's an ancient struggle of focusing more on doing than on being. They were down all the right things. There is nothing in the list that they should stop doing, but they had forgotten to do all those good things in love. What's the difference? Well, it's something I have struggled with myself. They wanted to be right for the sake of being right, not for the sake of benefiting others.
Being right, diligent, thorough in their study made them feel good about themselves but didn't help others. They needed to work hard, persevere and correct wicked people out of a spirit of love, for the other persons benefit, not just so they could be proven right.
Are you struggling because you're doing everything right and still feel like there is a disconnect between you and God? Are you diligent in your study and in your prayer time but you feel like you're praying to the wall or your words crash back down once they hit the ceiling? Perhaps it's because you're doing these things for the sake of doing them, of being right or telling others of your spiritual discipline and not out of love. Love for God first. Love for others second. Love corrects with the purpose of restoration not retaliation. Love studies for the purpose of knowing God, not getting noticed by God.
If you're struggling with doing and want to just be in love with Jesus start here: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8
PS. Notice at the end of verse 7 in Revelation 2 Jesus says that if they are victorious he will give them the right to eat of the tree of life. This was the tree Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden so they couldn't "eat it and live" in their fallen, sinful state. When we are victorious in walking in love God gives us the right to live forever with Him in harmony and love as it was in the beginning, we get restored to His perfect plan of presence with His creation!
These same struggles have been going on for millennia. Why? Because they work. They keep us distracted, they keep us focused on ourselves or our situation instead of on Jesus, on His power, on His Way.
My Bible reading today was Revelation 2 and it just so happened that I got a text while I was reading... I didn't respond to it, but saved it for when I was done. Turns out, the Holy Spirit had prepared that text and today's reading to come together for a little freedom. Let me share with you what I mean.
In Revelation 2 the Apostle John is writing to several churches who are having some struggles. I'll bet you find at least one of these churches that resonates with your own struggles. I've included some additional Scriptures that can teach you how to handle each struggle as it comes your way. In faith and the strength of the Holy Spirit in you, you can overcome just as the churches in these letters were encouraged to overcome, to press on, to repent and to follow.
So what I'm going to do is share one of these letters a day until we get through them next week. I hope that by seeing what the churches in the first century were struggling with and how you might overcome, or stand up through, those struggles you will be encouraged.
Revelation 2:1-7 The Church In Ephesus
This church was praised for their deeds, hard work, perseverance their unwillingness to tolerate wicked people among them and their strong adherence to the Word of God by testing those itinerant preachers who came to them against the Word they had already received. All these are good things. Solid things. Biblical things. But Jesus, through John, says that this same Biblically solid church has forsaken the love they had at first.
I think the church in Ephesus struggled with being so focused on doing everything right that they forgot to love.
It's an ancient struggle of focusing more on doing than on being. They were down all the right things. There is nothing in the list that they should stop doing, but they had forgotten to do all those good things in love. What's the difference? Well, it's something I have struggled with myself. They wanted to be right for the sake of being right, not for the sake of benefiting others.
Being right, diligent, thorough in their study made them feel good about themselves but didn't help others. They needed to work hard, persevere and correct wicked people out of a spirit of love, for the other persons benefit, not just so they could be proven right.
Are you struggling because you're doing everything right and still feel like there is a disconnect between you and God? Are you diligent in your study and in your prayer time but you feel like you're praying to the wall or your words crash back down once they hit the ceiling? Perhaps it's because you're doing these things for the sake of doing them, of being right or telling others of your spiritual discipline and not out of love. Love for God first. Love for others second. Love corrects with the purpose of restoration not retaliation. Love studies for the purpose of knowing God, not getting noticed by God.
If you're struggling with doing and want to just be in love with Jesus start here: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8
PS. Notice at the end of verse 7 in Revelation 2 Jesus says that if they are victorious he will give them the right to eat of the tree of life. This was the tree Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden so they couldn't "eat it and live" in their fallen, sinful state. When we are victorious in walking in love God gives us the right to live forever with Him in harmony and love as it was in the beginning, we get restored to His perfect plan of presence with His creation!
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Give & Take: 2 stories. 1 outcome. 4 blessings.
Have you ever had anything stolen from you?
It's a pretty terrible feeling isn't it. Just weeks after my wife and I were married someone broke into our home and stole a bunch of our few and precious belongings.
Have you ever had someone keep something that belonged to you?
Maybe it was the government keeping your tax refund or withholding your workers comp or unemployment funds.
When someone takes what doesn't belong to them or withholds what belongs to us it makes us angry.
Let me start with the most recent episode.
Judas was one of Jesus closest followers, a disciple. He was present when Jesus fed the 5,000, when He restored the demon possessed boy, when He healed the crippled man by the pool and for every lesson Jesus ever taught. Judas not only heard everything Jesus said about loving, giving, serving, helping and about who Jesus was and what He came to do, Judas actually saw all the miracles that proved Jesus was who He claimed to be, well, almost all the miracles.
But Judas had a problem. Though he followed Jesus he loved himself. Judas thought he was worth more to Jesus ministry than anyone else, including Jesus! John, another close follower of Jesus, would write this about Judas, "...he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it" (John 12:6). Judas literally stole from Jesus. He took was not his and what he himself did nothing to earn. It was given to God, it was taken by Judas. Eventually Judas would sell out his friend and leader, Jesus, for 30 pieces of silver. After he realizes what he has done, Judas went out and hung himself. He never saw Jesus' last and greatest miracle, His resurrection.
Go back about 400 years. Through the *prophet Malachi God spoke to His people Israel. The same people who God rescued from slavery in Egypt, led through the wilderness for 40 years while providing for their every need. These same people who thrived under kings like David and Solomon, who had wealth beyond measure and blessing upon blessing because they were were the people of God. These same people were withholding what was rightfully God's and He was angry with them. Here's what God told Malachi to tell the people, "Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me." I know. They asked the same question you're asking, "How are we robbing you?" Here's God's response. "In tithes and offerings." He goes on to pronounce the punishment. "You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me."
Two stories separated by 400 years, one similar outcome. Curse. Now, Judas wasn't cursed by God but follow with me for just a little longer.
The people of God were suffering greatly when God spoke to Malachi. They were calling out to God for help because of their oppression and poverty. This once great nation was falling apart. God said that it was because they were robbing Him. What was Judas doing all those years later? Robbing God. Judas was taking what was not his and the Israelites were keeping what belonged to God. Same sin.
I wonder what the outcome would have been if Judas would have responded to the blessings of Malachi? There are 3 blessings God says He will give the Israelites if they stop stealing from Him by withholding what was rightfully His.
It's a pretty terrible feeling isn't it. Just weeks after my wife and I were married someone broke into our home and stole a bunch of our few and precious belongings.
Have you ever had someone keep something that belonged to you?
Maybe it was the government keeping your tax refund or withholding your workers comp or unemployment funds.
When someone takes what doesn't belong to them or withholds what belongs to us it makes us angry.
Let me start with the most recent episode.
Judas was one of Jesus closest followers, a disciple. He was present when Jesus fed the 5,000, when He restored the demon possessed boy, when He healed the crippled man by the pool and for every lesson Jesus ever taught. Judas not only heard everything Jesus said about loving, giving, serving, helping and about who Jesus was and what He came to do, Judas actually saw all the miracles that proved Jesus was who He claimed to be, well, almost all the miracles.
But Judas had a problem. Though he followed Jesus he loved himself. Judas thought he was worth more to Jesus ministry than anyone else, including Jesus! John, another close follower of Jesus, would write this about Judas, "...he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it" (John 12:6). Judas literally stole from Jesus. He took was not his and what he himself did nothing to earn. It was given to God, it was taken by Judas. Eventually Judas would sell out his friend and leader, Jesus, for 30 pieces of silver. After he realizes what he has done, Judas went out and hung himself. He never saw Jesus' last and greatest miracle, His resurrection.
Go back about 400 years. Through the *prophet Malachi God spoke to His people Israel. The same people who God rescued from slavery in Egypt, led through the wilderness for 40 years while providing for their every need. These same people who thrived under kings like David and Solomon, who had wealth beyond measure and blessing upon blessing because they were were the people of God. These same people were withholding what was rightfully God's and He was angry with them. Here's what God told Malachi to tell the people, "Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me." I know. They asked the same question you're asking, "How are we robbing you?" Here's God's response. "In tithes and offerings." He goes on to pronounce the punishment. "You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me."
Two stories separated by 400 years, one similar outcome. Curse. Now, Judas wasn't cursed by God but follow with me for just a little longer.
The people of God were suffering greatly when God spoke to Malachi. They were calling out to God for help because of their oppression and poverty. This once great nation was falling apart. God said that it was because they were robbing Him. What was Judas doing all those years later? Robbing God. Judas was taking what was not his and the Israelites were keeping what belonged to God. Same sin.
I wonder what the outcome would have been if Judas would have responded to the blessings of Malachi? There are 3 blessings God says He will give the Israelites if they stop stealing from Him by withholding what was rightfully His.
- The blessing of PLENTY. "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house" (v10). When we give to God what is God's there is plenty to meet the needs of the ministries and missions God has called His church to support. There's something comforting about having plenty. It is a blessing.
- The blessing of TESTING. "Test me in this" (v10). Have you ever had anyone tell you to, "prove it"? They are putting you to the test. Seeing if you really can do 10 pushups without stopping. Or eat that whole pizza or marry that girl. Here's the deal though, very few are actually able to stand up to the test. But God always will. He will never fail a test - in part because this is the only thing we are allowed to test Him at. His faithfulness in response to our giving.
- The blessing of POURING. "...see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it" (v10). Have you ever gotten to the end of the milk and you know others will want it for their cereal but there isn't enough for everybody to have as much as they want so you ration? Isn't it so much better when you can pour out the milk without worry because there is plenty? God doesn't want to give you a little here and a little there, He wants to POUR out blessing on you until it's overflowing.
- The blessing of PREVENTION. "I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe" (v11). We often think in terms of God giving blessing to us, but of equal, if not greater value, is the blessing of prevention. How much money would you save if the car never broke down, the kids never got sick, you never got laid off or your gas tank never ran out? When God gets involved He doesn't just give things to you He prevents things from getting to you.
If Judas would have been generous toward Jesus the blessing of Malachi could have been his. In any case, God can't bless what you don't give. Whether you're taking what doesn't belong to you or you're withholding what belongs to Him you're the one that's missing out. The Israelites and Judas both thought the same, if they take or keep they'll have more but that wasn't the truth.
Are you taking what doesn't belong to you? Are you withholding what belongs to God? God can't bless what you don't give.
How can you make sure you're giving to God?
- Serve. Use your time, abilities, finances or possessions to help your church fulfill it's mission.
- Give. This is pretty obvious. Don't keep what isn't yours, things He's given you for the express purpose of blessing others or His church. Don't withhold what belongs to God, the tithe or first 10% of your increase - for most of us that's a paycheck, for others it might be barter or animals or fruit from the ground.
- Grow. Make a conscious effort to study, read and pray to make sure you're giving so He can start blessing.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
How Do You Feel When You See Jesus Coming?
A little over a year ago my family and I were given a little white puff-ball dog. A Maltese. Here he is doing one of his favorite things. He looks real cute but he has some serious separation anxiety. And after being left at home for a while he goes crazy when we get back.That crazy dog, running around, so excited and anxious and nervous and jumping and twisting around and barking is the picture that popped into my mind when I read the story of the demon possessed man from Luke 8 this morning.
It's actually something that I had missed every other time I have read this passage but it jumped off the page when I read it this morning. Let me set it up.
As I was reading down through the chapter I first was struck by this verse, "Consider carefully how you listen" verse 18. I actually stopped reading and just thought about that for a minute. How often do we consider how we listen? What does that even mean? I wasn't sure, so I prayed something like, "God, help me to learn to listen so that I don't miss You in anything."
As I kept reading I came to the verse that caused me to think about my crazy dog. It happens in verse 27 right after Jesus gets to the other side of the Sea of Galilee after calming the storm. It simply says, "when Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs."
Here's what got me, Jesus is sailing across the lake and on the other side is this naked man acting like my dog when I come home. I just pictured him running up and down the beach screaming and flailing his arms and jumping around. My guess is that Jesus saw him long before He reached the shore. The man had to be there waiting because Luke specifically says, "when Jesus stepped ashore..." This crazy man was the only one waiting for Him. Anticipating Jesus arrival. And what does he say when Jesus finally gets out of the boat? "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you don't torture me!"
Why was the man there? No one apparently knew Jesus was coming that day. No one else was there when He got to shore. Perhaps the demon possessed man was down by the water when he noticed a storm, and then no storm. Maybe he just knew that the only one who could calm a storm was in that boat. Whatever the reason he was there it is a beautiful picture of the craziness of life and the freedom found in Jesus.
I want to be the one waiting for Jesus when no one else is around because I know when Jesus gets here, lives are going to be changed.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
What's Your Plan?
Easter is this Sunday. In the life of the preacher Easter is the Super Bowl. It is the single largest attended Sunday of the year - every year. And I'm actually not as stressed as I usually am at this time. Part of the reason is that I have a plan. I started message prep early. I got some time in on the message yesterday and I plan to have a working outline by the end of the day today.
What's your plan for today?
You've probably heard it said that if you fail to plan you plan to fail. That's the axiom that hit me as I read through my bible reading from yesterday. Paul says in Romans 13:14, "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires."
As Easter approaches every year there are lots of provisions that have to be secured. We do a huge Easter egg hunt every year following Sunday service with candy filled eggs and special notes in some of the eggs that get the finder special large prizes. There is music to plan and rehearse. Volunteers to be solicited and trained and time with God that must not be overlooked.
While on the treadmill this morning the Holy Spirit spoke this thought to my mind, the more I pursue the Jesus the less time I have to pursue evil. Truth is, most sin doesn't just sneak up on us. Now, we say it does - I didn't mean to, it just happened, I slipped. Truth is, 90% of the time we've made provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Sometimes that looks like staying up after everyone has gone to bed. Spending too much time on our electronic devices. Turning so no one can see or covering up the truth with a irritated comment. I know that I have thought about ways to make sin work. Planned it. Orchestrated it. And then fell prey to it and felt overwhelming guilt.
Today, make plans to pursue Jesus. If you're intentional about Jesus you won't have time to be intentional about sin. Fill your down time with things that benefit your spiritual growth. Organize your time for Jesus and you won't have time for the flesh.
What's your plan for today?
You've probably heard it said that if you fail to plan you plan to fail. That's the axiom that hit me as I read through my bible reading from yesterday. Paul says in Romans 13:14, "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires."
As Easter approaches every year there are lots of provisions that have to be secured. We do a huge Easter egg hunt every year following Sunday service with candy filled eggs and special notes in some of the eggs that get the finder special large prizes. There is music to plan and rehearse. Volunteers to be solicited and trained and time with God that must not be overlooked.
While on the treadmill this morning the Holy Spirit spoke this thought to my mind, the more I pursue the Jesus the less time I have to pursue evil. Truth is, most sin doesn't just sneak up on us. Now, we say it does - I didn't mean to, it just happened, I slipped. Truth is, 90% of the time we've made provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Sometimes that looks like staying up after everyone has gone to bed. Spending too much time on our electronic devices. Turning so no one can see or covering up the truth with a irritated comment. I know that I have thought about ways to make sin work. Planned it. Orchestrated it. And then fell prey to it and felt overwhelming guilt.
Today, make plans to pursue Jesus. If you're intentional about Jesus you won't have time to be intentional about sin. Fill your down time with things that benefit your spiritual growth. Organize your time for Jesus and you won't have time for the flesh.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Unplowed Ground
Day 295: Hosea 10, Psalm 145 & Jeremiah 46
In the last few weeks I've been reminded of the Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13. In that story Jesus tells us that a farmer went out to sow seed in his field. Some of the seed fell on the path that he walked through his field and the birds came and ate it. Some seed fell on rocky soil where it sprouted quickly because there was only thin layer of soil so there was no where but up for the plant to grow. However, it soon wilted because of the lack of soil. Some seed feel on soil that had lots of weeds which grew up faster than the plant and soaked up the sun, water and nutrients so the plant starved. But there was a lot of seed that fell on the good soil, plowed, fertilized, weeded and free of rock soil. The seeds there grew and produced a great harvest.
Jesus goes on in that chapter to explain that the farmer is God, the seed is His Word and the soil represents the conditions of the heart onto which the seed falls. However, satan is also involved because he is blamed for snatching the seed away that falls on the path (the birds eat it). The rocks and weeds are spiritual and physical distractions that minimize growth and end up producing nothing.
I've preached that story many times. I've approached it from the standpoint of the churches role in spreading seed. I've talked about the church and christians doing the early work of preparing the soil so that a larger portion is considered "good" so that the return is greater. I've shared how all the soil may look alike from the top but a few inches under is where you find the rocks and roots so you need to dig a little in order to get things cleared. And recently we've looked at satan's roll in stealing seed and "planting" rocks and weeds in an attempt to stifle and stop an individuals growth.
But today I was reading in Hosea 10 and I read something that made me look at this Matthew 13 passage from a different perspective again. In verse 12 of Hosea 10 Hosea is speaking to the people from God and he says, "Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you."
Something that my father once told me came to my mind, "God blesses you in the areas of your life where you are faithful to Him." If you are faithful with your stewardship of God's resources He will bless you in the area of finances. If you are faithful in your prayers, your job, your relationships, with your children toward God, He will bless you according to the areas in your life you are faithful to Him. So I can be faithful to God in one area of my life even if I am unfaithful in another (this is not a goal or a loophole it is a reality for many Christians). God is able to bless me where I am faithful to Him and discipline me where I am not.
Then I read Hosea give two commands to the people, sow righteousness in order to reap unfailing love. Which just means, trust God in every aspect of your life - Abraham obeyed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. It wasn't that Abraham did everything right, quite the contrary if you read his story, but Abraham believed God when He spoke. Believed Him when He said, I'll make you into a great nation... In your old age your wife will conceive and give birth to a son... Leave your home and go to the land I will show you... We sow righteousness by believing what God has said and then acting on that belief in our lives. Here's an example. I trust what God has to say about my finances when I return to Him 10% of what He gives. I then live that out by actually giving that tithe faithfully, freely and happily. I am trusting God and acting on His Word which means I am sowing righteousness in the area of my finances and I should expect to reap unfailing love.
But the second command is that we break up the unplowed ground and this is what got me thinking. In my life I can have areas where I have good soil, hard packed soil, rocky soil and weeds. Where I may be faithful in one spiritual area of my life I may be unfaithful in another. While I may trust God financially I may not trust Him relationally. I may trust Him in service and sacrifice but forget what He's said about sexual immorality.
It's not enough for me to sow righteousness where the soil of my life is fertile and prepared to receive that seed, I have to be actively clearing the unplowed ground, enlarging the field of turned soil. Removing the rocks, pulling the weeds up by the root and aerating the packed soil. Hosea's encouragement is to get busy doing this, seeking the Lord's help in revealing those areas of bad soil, until He comes and showers righteousness on you. That's sounds pretty amazing to me!
So I want to work to seek out those areas of my life where the soil has been abandoned or even packed down firm and begin to till those areas up. I will pray for God's help in revealing those areas that I'm not aware of (though there are plenty of areas I am already aware of). I will use removed the rocks and the weeds according to His Word - so I know what a rock is and weed is and don't pull up anything good! And I will use His Word to fertilize that soil so that when the seed is sown it has every possible chance of sprouting AND producing fruit.
Here's to playing the dirt and reaping a great crop!
In the last few weeks I've been reminded of the Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13. In that story Jesus tells us that a farmer went out to sow seed in his field. Some of the seed fell on the path that he walked through his field and the birds came and ate it. Some seed fell on rocky soil where it sprouted quickly because there was only thin layer of soil so there was no where but up for the plant to grow. However, it soon wilted because of the lack of soil. Some seed feel on soil that had lots of weeds which grew up faster than the plant and soaked up the sun, water and nutrients so the plant starved. But there was a lot of seed that fell on the good soil, plowed, fertilized, weeded and free of rock soil. The seeds there grew and produced a great harvest.
Jesus goes on in that chapter to explain that the farmer is God, the seed is His Word and the soil represents the conditions of the heart onto which the seed falls. However, satan is also involved because he is blamed for snatching the seed away that falls on the path (the birds eat it). The rocks and weeds are spiritual and physical distractions that minimize growth and end up producing nothing.
I've preached that story many times. I've approached it from the standpoint of the churches role in spreading seed. I've talked about the church and christians doing the early work of preparing the soil so that a larger portion is considered "good" so that the return is greater. I've shared how all the soil may look alike from the top but a few inches under is where you find the rocks and roots so you need to dig a little in order to get things cleared. And recently we've looked at satan's roll in stealing seed and "planting" rocks and weeds in an attempt to stifle and stop an individuals growth.
But today I was reading in Hosea 10 and I read something that made me look at this Matthew 13 passage from a different perspective again. In verse 12 of Hosea 10 Hosea is speaking to the people from God and he says, "Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you."
Something that my father once told me came to my mind, "God blesses you in the areas of your life where you are faithful to Him." If you are faithful with your stewardship of God's resources He will bless you in the area of finances. If you are faithful in your prayers, your job, your relationships, with your children toward God, He will bless you according to the areas in your life you are faithful to Him. So I can be faithful to God in one area of my life even if I am unfaithful in another (this is not a goal or a loophole it is a reality for many Christians). God is able to bless me where I am faithful to Him and discipline me where I am not.
Then I read Hosea give two commands to the people, sow righteousness in order to reap unfailing love. Which just means, trust God in every aspect of your life - Abraham obeyed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. It wasn't that Abraham did everything right, quite the contrary if you read his story, but Abraham believed God when He spoke. Believed Him when He said, I'll make you into a great nation... In your old age your wife will conceive and give birth to a son... Leave your home and go to the land I will show you... We sow righteousness by believing what God has said and then acting on that belief in our lives. Here's an example. I trust what God has to say about my finances when I return to Him 10% of what He gives. I then live that out by actually giving that tithe faithfully, freely and happily. I am trusting God and acting on His Word which means I am sowing righteousness in the area of my finances and I should expect to reap unfailing love.
But the second command is that we break up the unplowed ground and this is what got me thinking. In my life I can have areas where I have good soil, hard packed soil, rocky soil and weeds. Where I may be faithful in one spiritual area of my life I may be unfaithful in another. While I may trust God financially I may not trust Him relationally. I may trust Him in service and sacrifice but forget what He's said about sexual immorality.
It's not enough for me to sow righteousness where the soil of my life is fertile and prepared to receive that seed, I have to be actively clearing the unplowed ground, enlarging the field of turned soil. Removing the rocks, pulling the weeds up by the root and aerating the packed soil. Hosea's encouragement is to get busy doing this, seeking the Lord's help in revealing those areas of bad soil, until He comes and showers righteousness on you. That's sounds pretty amazing to me!
So I want to work to seek out those areas of my life where the soil has been abandoned or even packed down firm and begin to till those areas up. I will pray for God's help in revealing those areas that I'm not aware of (though there are plenty of areas I am already aware of). I will use removed the rocks and the weeds according to His Word - so I know what a rock is and weed is and don't pull up anything good! And I will use His Word to fertilize that soil so that when the seed is sown it has every possible chance of sprouting AND producing fruit.
Here's to playing the dirt and reaping a great crop!
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Put It To The Test
Day 232: Ecclesiastes 3 & Nehemiah 6
This last Sunday I shared in the message how important it is for us as believers to know God's Word. For the message the point was that we needed to see how relevant it was to our lives so that we could help others see that it is relevant to their lives as well. But there is another reason we need to know what God says. I'll use an experience Nehemiah had to explain.
Nehemiah had come back to Jerusalem from Babylon (the heart of the Persian Empire - same Persia represented in the movie 300) and had begun to rebuild the wall around his beloved City. While work continued the surrounding people groups tried desperately to slow and ultimately stop the work claiming all kinds of reasons and threatening all kinds of destruction if it did not.
At one point Nehemiah was asked to visit a man named Shemaiah who was very concerned for Nehemiah's safety. He claimed (probably honestly) that some men were going to try and kill Nehemiah that very night. As they talked about what that might mean if something happened to Nehemiah they began to discuss some possible ways to keep Nehemiah safe. At some point, Shemaiah suggested that Nehemiah barricade himself in the Temple so as to avoid this attempt on his life.
My guess would be that up to that moment Nehemiah was tracking pretty well with his friend. An attack on his life was serious and could bring the work on the city wall to a complete stop. And the fear that this would bring might keep the people from ever restarting the work. I'm sure Nehemiah was concerned not only for his life but for the work God had moved in him to complete.
That is, until, Shemaiah suggested he go find sanctuary in the Temple.
Nehemiah new the Word of God. That instruction made it clear that ONLY the Priests were allowed to enter the Temple. Only those who were the descendants of the first Priest, Aaron. Because Nehemiah new the Word of God, when his friends suggested that he break that Word and sin against God Nehemiah was able to correctly determine the real intent of Shemaiah's concern.
Turns out, Nehemiah's enemy had paid off Shemaiah to try and get Nehemiah to break God's law so that they would have something against him with which to tarnish his reputation before the people and with a character assassination bring the work on the wall to a halt.
Self preservation is a pretty powerful motivator but it does not take precedent over God's Word. Nehemiah knew that God would protect him if he continued to follow Him. However, if Nehemiah had taken Shemaiah's advice He would have been in violation of God's Law and under guilt and punishment himself. Because Nehemiah knew God's Word he was able to correctly determine what was going on and then stand in faith instead of falling in fear.
When we take God's Word as truth He can protect us from making the wrong decisions.
John says, Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. How do we test the spirits? How do we test the advice we get from others? How do we know when it's God speaking through them or not? We must know God's Word. It is our defense against making the wrong decisions. When we test our ideas and the advice we get from others against what God says we have a clear direction - even though we may not understand it, we may not want to do it, God's way is always the right way.
Take some time today to read God's Word so you can make the right decisions and avoid sin.
This last Sunday I shared in the message how important it is for us as believers to know God's Word. For the message the point was that we needed to see how relevant it was to our lives so that we could help others see that it is relevant to their lives as well. But there is another reason we need to know what God says. I'll use an experience Nehemiah had to explain.
Nehemiah had come back to Jerusalem from Babylon (the heart of the Persian Empire - same Persia represented in the movie 300) and had begun to rebuild the wall around his beloved City. While work continued the surrounding people groups tried desperately to slow and ultimately stop the work claiming all kinds of reasons and threatening all kinds of destruction if it did not.
At one point Nehemiah was asked to visit a man named Shemaiah who was very concerned for Nehemiah's safety. He claimed (probably honestly) that some men were going to try and kill Nehemiah that very night. As they talked about what that might mean if something happened to Nehemiah they began to discuss some possible ways to keep Nehemiah safe. At some point, Shemaiah suggested that Nehemiah barricade himself in the Temple so as to avoid this attempt on his life.
My guess would be that up to that moment Nehemiah was tracking pretty well with his friend. An attack on his life was serious and could bring the work on the city wall to a complete stop. And the fear that this would bring might keep the people from ever restarting the work. I'm sure Nehemiah was concerned not only for his life but for the work God had moved in him to complete.
That is, until, Shemaiah suggested he go find sanctuary in the Temple.
Nehemiah new the Word of God. That instruction made it clear that ONLY the Priests were allowed to enter the Temple. Only those who were the descendants of the first Priest, Aaron. Because Nehemiah new the Word of God, when his friends suggested that he break that Word and sin against God Nehemiah was able to correctly determine the real intent of Shemaiah's concern.
Turns out, Nehemiah's enemy had paid off Shemaiah to try and get Nehemiah to break God's law so that they would have something against him with which to tarnish his reputation before the people and with a character assassination bring the work on the wall to a halt.
Self preservation is a pretty powerful motivator but it does not take precedent over God's Word. Nehemiah knew that God would protect him if he continued to follow Him. However, if Nehemiah had taken Shemaiah's advice He would have been in violation of God's Law and under guilt and punishment himself. Because Nehemiah knew God's Word he was able to correctly determine what was going on and then stand in faith instead of falling in fear.
When we take God's Word as truth He can protect us from making the wrong decisions.
John says, Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. How do we test the spirits? How do we test the advice we get from others? How do we know when it's God speaking through them or not? We must know God's Word. It is our defense against making the wrong decisions. When we test our ideas and the advice we get from others against what God says we have a clear direction - even though we may not understand it, we may not want to do it, God's way is always the right way.
Take some time today to read God's Word so you can make the right decisions and avoid sin.
Thursday, August 14, 2014
You Must Be "This Tall" To Ride
Day 226: Job 39 & Ezra 10
Do you remember these signs? I never really had a problem with these I think I was born at 5'3" so I almost always met the height requirement. But once in a while I didn't and boy was that difficult. Especially when others were tall enough.
But this desire to measure up isn't just an issue for roller coasters or the house of horrors it's something each of us struggle with nearly every day.
My neighbor has a nicer car than me.
My wife makes more money than I do.
My friend has a bigger house, a bigger TV, a louder surround sound system...
For me, I struggle to measure up when I look at other preachers. They are always better communicators, better closers, have bigger churches, better salary package and seem to be better at dealing with sin than me.
Measuring up when we compare ourselves to others in what we consider similar situations never ends well and we almost always feel more inadequate and less competent.
I heard someone say the other day that part of the problem lies in the fact that we are comparing our "normal" selves with others "best" and so we never get a fair shake. A woman who just woke up and flips through pages of a magazine is comparing herself with the made-up, dressed-up and touched-up woman in the pictures. When we compare we almost always lose.
I'll be that's how the Ostrich feels.
I think I said yesterday that this section of the book of Job is my favorite because God is now speaking and what He says is just fabulous - as long as He's saying it to Job and his "friends" anyway! Today, God tells Job to look at the Ostrich. When an ostrich flaps it's wings it is a pretty impressive sight. The ostrich is powerful and intimidating. It stands in majesty as it flaps it's wings as though it could any moment begin to overcome gravity and rise to the heavens. The ostrich is a majestic and power animal... but it's wings are useless. And even though the ostrich is much bigger and more powerful than the stork, when a stork flaps it's wings and soars into the sky all attention is off the ostrich. Poor ostrich.
And the ostrich isn't even able to say, "at least I'm a good mother!" An ostrich lays her eggs on the ground, exposed, to be warmed by the sun. While she goes off flapping her powerful wings someone finds breakfast just lying on the ground!
By this point the ostrich is feeling pretty low. All this size and strength and she can't fly and is a terrible mother. She's too short. She doesn't measure up. She sticks her head in the sand so no one can see her...
It's a sad day for the ostrich. But what if the ostrich challenged the stork to a foot race? When the ostrich begins to run there is virtually none faster. Though she can't fly she sets the bar in land speed! While she may not be a good mom, if her kids do survive they have an excellent example of how to, as Ricky Bobby would say, "go fast."
So while the ostrich can't fly and isn't a good parental roll model there is something she can teach us about comparing ourselves to others. Don't. There will be plenty of times when you don't feel like you measure up, but when you find that thing you are good at and you work to improve it you can be unstoppable. You may not be good at everything. You may not be as talented in certain areas as others. But God has given you something that you can do.
1 Corinthians 12:5-11
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.
There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good... [and] All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
It the ostrich spends all it's time trying to be a stork it will be very disappointed and consider it's life worth little. But when and ostrich runs, when it does what it was created to do, nothing can compare.
If you're on ostrich - be an ostrich.
Do you remember these signs? I never really had a problem with these I think I was born at 5'3" so I almost always met the height requirement. But once in a while I didn't and boy was that difficult. Especially when others were tall enough.
But this desire to measure up isn't just an issue for roller coasters or the house of horrors it's something each of us struggle with nearly every day.
My neighbor has a nicer car than me.
My wife makes more money than I do.
My friend has a bigger house, a bigger TV, a louder surround sound system...
For me, I struggle to measure up when I look at other preachers. They are always better communicators, better closers, have bigger churches, better salary package and seem to be better at dealing with sin than me.
Measuring up when we compare ourselves to others in what we consider similar situations never ends well and we almost always feel more inadequate and less competent.
I heard someone say the other day that part of the problem lies in the fact that we are comparing our "normal" selves with others "best" and so we never get a fair shake. A woman who just woke up and flips through pages of a magazine is comparing herself with the made-up, dressed-up and touched-up woman in the pictures. When we compare we almost always lose.
I'll be that's how the Ostrich feels.
I think I said yesterday that this section of the book of Job is my favorite because God is now speaking and what He says is just fabulous - as long as He's saying it to Job and his "friends" anyway! Today, God tells Job to look at the Ostrich. When an ostrich flaps it's wings it is a pretty impressive sight. The ostrich is powerful and intimidating. It stands in majesty as it flaps it's wings as though it could any moment begin to overcome gravity and rise to the heavens. The ostrich is a majestic and power animal... but it's wings are useless. And even though the ostrich is much bigger and more powerful than the stork, when a stork flaps it's wings and soars into the sky all attention is off the ostrich. Poor ostrich.
And the ostrich isn't even able to say, "at least I'm a good mother!" An ostrich lays her eggs on the ground, exposed, to be warmed by the sun. While she goes off flapping her powerful wings someone finds breakfast just lying on the ground!
By this point the ostrich is feeling pretty low. All this size and strength and she can't fly and is a terrible mother. She's too short. She doesn't measure up. She sticks her head in the sand so no one can see her...
It's a sad day for the ostrich. But what if the ostrich challenged the stork to a foot race? When the ostrich begins to run there is virtually none faster. Though she can't fly she sets the bar in land speed! While she may not be a good mom, if her kids do survive they have an excellent example of how to, as Ricky Bobby would say, "go fast."
So while the ostrich can't fly and isn't a good parental roll model there is something she can teach us about comparing ourselves to others. Don't. There will be plenty of times when you don't feel like you measure up, but when you find that thing you are good at and you work to improve it you can be unstoppable. You may not be good at everything. You may not be as talented in certain areas as others. But God has given you something that you can do.
1 Corinthians 12:5-11
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.
There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good... [and] All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
It the ostrich spends all it's time trying to be a stork it will be very disappointed and consider it's life worth little. But when and ostrich runs, when it does what it was created to do, nothing can compare.
If you're on ostrich - be an ostrich.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
What To Do In A Storm
Day 225: Job 38 & Ezra 9
There are a lot of storm references in the Bible.
That's why it's interesting to me that God chooses to speak "out of the storm." And I wonder if there is something God wants us to catch in this. God speaks out of the storm. When our world is falling apart and we don't know if we'll survive - at our darkest hour and in the most dreaded of moments God speaks out of the storm. I think there is a reason for this. I think God wants us to understand that there is no power in heaven or on earth that is big enough, strong enough or devastating enough to scare God away from desiring to be right there with us. Romans 8:35 says, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?"
Storms don't only represent the chaos of life they represent the power of God over the storm as seen when Jesus calms the storms with the words, "peace. be still." The power of God in the storm as Elijah witness the rocks split and the mountains heave. And the power of God through the storm as we see in Job.
In the midst of your storm - whatever it is and no matter how black, wet or powerful it is God is speaking out of that storm something that you need to hear. Listen. I wonder if the outcome of the events of that led to Robin Williams death would be different if he had heard God out of the storm...
Today, in whatever storm you face at home, at work or just inside yourself God is speaking out of your storm and into your life, listen.
There are a lot of storm references in the Bible.
- Imagine the storms during creation
- The storms that brought about the flood of Noah's day
- It was a storm that destroyed the home of Job's son, killing all of his children
- Elijah witnessed incredible storms while in the mountains waiting to hear God's voice
- The disciples thought they would die during several storm on the Sea of Galilee - once while Jesus was sleeping in the boat and again when they saw Jesus walking on the water
- There was a pretty big storm when Jesus died while on the cross and
- There will be a pretty fantastic storm when the sky gets ripped open when Jesus returns to establish His eternal Kingdom.
There were lots of natural storms in the bible but perhaps no one experienced a greater personal storm than Job. Over the last 37 chapter in Job we've heard about how Job's difficulties began and we've heard reasons, ideas and opinions about "why" from Job's friends.
But now it gets to my favorite part of the story of Job's life, when God begins to answer. And I love the first verse here: "Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm."
Once again we see God connected to a storm. And I'm not sure whether it was a natural storm (there is no indication that it was storming from the text) or if it was more like, the Lord spoke to Job in the midst of his storm... either way the storm is happening.
I have lived in the mid-West for 24 years now and we get some pretty good storms. Thunderstorms and hail and tornadoes and even straight-line winds. Storms are pretty impressive and I have often taken to standing on the porch to watch the sky as the storms begin to form. I've even had occasion to see a few funnels begin to form and stretch down to the earth. And I even got to see the aftermath of the Joplin Missouri tornado when our church took supplies to the struggling area.
Storms represent well the chaos of life. The driving winds and soaking rain. The damaging and fire-starting lightning and even the darkness. In light of comedian and actor Robin Williams suicide we're all keenly aware of the darkness that often accompanies storms. When the storm is raging we're not sure we're going to survive and when it is over we often wonder if we'll ever recover.
Storms don't only represent the chaos of life they represent the power of God over the storm as seen when Jesus calms the storms with the words, "peace. be still." The power of God in the storm as Elijah witness the rocks split and the mountains heave. And the power of God through the storm as we see in Job.
In the midst of your storm - whatever it is and no matter how black, wet or powerful it is God is speaking out of that storm something that you need to hear. Listen. I wonder if the outcome of the events of that led to Robin Williams death would be different if he had heard God out of the storm...
Today, in whatever storm you face at home, at work or just inside yourself God is speaking out of your storm and into your life, listen.
Friday, July 25, 2014
Stay On Yo' Side
Day 206: Job 19 & 2 Chronicles 26
My daughter used to watch this youtube "celebrity" named GloZell. She is crazy. (I would put the youtube link on here but I'm pretty sure my mom would click on it and I'd get an email about how disturbing the video was - so, if you're clever enough I'll let you find it if you choose and avoid the email.) GloZell had an episode where she was driving and all the sudden scream (in her car with the windows up) "Stay on yo' side!" to an oncoming vehicle. I have to admit that it was pretty funny and for weeks after my daughter showed Andi and I this episode whenever we felt someone was getting too close on the road, in the house, car or on the couch we'd yell out, "Stay on yo' side!"
In today's reading a man named Uzziah has succeeded his father as king of Judah and, unlike his father followed God in all he did. At least for awhile. The text says that when he was "greatly helped (by God) until he became powerful." And then later, "his pride led to his downfall."
King Uzziah loved the soil and had vast gardens and lots of herds and flocks and had his servants dig many cisterns to water the earth and the animals. But he was also an inventor. He invented some clever defense systems which would allow archers to shoot from the walls and towers and even large stones to be hurled off them.
But king Uzziah got so impressed with himself that he thought he was capable of doing everything. He got so good at being the leader of God's people he thought he could be their spiritual leader as well. So, despite God's law that only a priest (tribe of Levi) could enter the Temple to make sacrifices, Uzziah took oil and marched into the Temple of God to burn incense on the alter.
God had gifted and blessed Uzziah to lead His people as king, but NOT as priest. When Uzziah tried to operate outside of his wheel-house things went downhill quick. This happens in the church and in our lives quite often. Preachers and leaders who are successful in the areas God has gifted them can wrongly assume that they are gifted in all areas. People who serve in one capacity and do well can then begin to direct others. For leaders, it is difficult at times to stay focused on what we're to do and not wander across the line into someone else's territory.
So here's the rule, Stay On Yo' Side. If God has gifted you to lead a small group lead that group well and stay on yo side. If your gifting is generosity give well but stay on yo side. If it's preaching find others to lead where you are not gifted so you can stay on yo side.
We honor God when we serve in the way He has gifted but when we begin to horn in on other's role or take more responsibility than He has given we begin to get into trouble. So here's the rule for every person in ministry or leadership - stay on yo side and God will bless you. Stay humble and God will bless you. Stay focused on your task and God will bless you.
My daughter used to watch this youtube "celebrity" named GloZell. She is crazy. (I would put the youtube link on here but I'm pretty sure my mom would click on it and I'd get an email about how disturbing the video was - so, if you're clever enough I'll let you find it if you choose and avoid the email.) GloZell had an episode where she was driving and all the sudden scream (in her car with the windows up) "Stay on yo' side!" to an oncoming vehicle. I have to admit that it was pretty funny and for weeks after my daughter showed Andi and I this episode whenever we felt someone was getting too close on the road, in the house, car or on the couch we'd yell out, "Stay on yo' side!"
In today's reading a man named Uzziah has succeeded his father as king of Judah and, unlike his father followed God in all he did. At least for awhile. The text says that when he was "greatly helped (by God) until he became powerful." And then later, "his pride led to his downfall."
King Uzziah loved the soil and had vast gardens and lots of herds and flocks and had his servants dig many cisterns to water the earth and the animals. But he was also an inventor. He invented some clever defense systems which would allow archers to shoot from the walls and towers and even large stones to be hurled off them.
But king Uzziah got so impressed with himself that he thought he was capable of doing everything. He got so good at being the leader of God's people he thought he could be their spiritual leader as well. So, despite God's law that only a priest (tribe of Levi) could enter the Temple to make sacrifices, Uzziah took oil and marched into the Temple of God to burn incense on the alter.
God had gifted and blessed Uzziah to lead His people as king, but NOT as priest. When Uzziah tried to operate outside of his wheel-house things went downhill quick. This happens in the church and in our lives quite often. Preachers and leaders who are successful in the areas God has gifted them can wrongly assume that they are gifted in all areas. People who serve in one capacity and do well can then begin to direct others. For leaders, it is difficult at times to stay focused on what we're to do and not wander across the line into someone else's territory.
So here's the rule, Stay On Yo' Side. If God has gifted you to lead a small group lead that group well and stay on yo side. If your gifting is generosity give well but stay on yo side. If it's preaching find others to lead where you are not gifted so you can stay on yo side.
We honor God when we serve in the way He has gifted but when we begin to horn in on other's role or take more responsibility than He has given we begin to get into trouble. So here's the rule for every person in ministry or leadership - stay on yo side and God will bless you. Stay humble and God will bless you. Stay focused on your task and God will bless you.
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Who You Listen To Directly Affects What You Do...
Day 204: Job 17 & 2 Chronicles 24
Joash became king of Judah when he was just seven years old. When he was made king he was presented with the crown and a copy of the law of God (first five books of the Old Testament) by the priest of God, Jehoiada. Whenever someone new was crowned king they were given a copy of the law which they were then to make their own hand written copy of. I assume Joash did this. I think it's even why, at such a young age, he determined to rebuild the Temple of God.
But in verse 17 of 2 Chronicles, shortly after the priest Jehoiada dies, some officials from Judah came to "pay homage" to Joash and he "listened to them..." Soon after he abandoned the worship of God at the Temple and began to worship other gods.
When Jehoiada was alive Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. But once he was dead Joash almost immediately began to turn his back on God. And when some smooth talkers came along they were easily able to influence Joash.
Who we listen to directly affects what we do. There are some who desire your benefit and blessing and are willing to speak difficult things into your life with the hope that you will learn and grow. There are others who will flatter you and say things that are nice to hear but their goal is not your benefit but their own.
When you are able to listen to those whose words may be a little harsh but whose desire is your ultimate benefit you will grow in character and leadership. When you listen to those who just make you feel good about yourself you'll quickly find yourself seeking their approval... and you'll soon reject God's.
Who are you listening to today?
Joash became king of Judah when he was just seven years old. When he was made king he was presented with the crown and a copy of the law of God (first five books of the Old Testament) by the priest of God, Jehoiada. Whenever someone new was crowned king they were given a copy of the law which they were then to make their own hand written copy of. I assume Joash did this. I think it's even why, at such a young age, he determined to rebuild the Temple of God.
But in verse 17 of 2 Chronicles, shortly after the priest Jehoiada dies, some officials from Judah came to "pay homage" to Joash and he "listened to them..." Soon after he abandoned the worship of God at the Temple and began to worship other gods.
When Jehoiada was alive Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. But once he was dead Joash almost immediately began to turn his back on God. And when some smooth talkers came along they were easily able to influence Joash.
Who we listen to directly affects what we do. There are some who desire your benefit and blessing and are willing to speak difficult things into your life with the hope that you will learn and grow. There are others who will flatter you and say things that are nice to hear but their goal is not your benefit but their own.
When you are able to listen to those whose words may be a little harsh but whose desire is your ultimate benefit you will grow in character and leadership. When you listen to those who just make you feel good about yourself you'll quickly find yourself seeking their approval... and you'll soon reject God's.
Who are you listening to today?
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Does God Want Me Happy? Musings on a Message
Hello! Yes, I fell in a hole and have just recently crawled out...
Last week at Real Life Church we started a two week series called, Does God Want Me Happy? We kicked off the series looking at what generally makes us happy. Think about the last time you were happy - why were you happy? Was it because your family was together? Did you get a good present for your birthday (btw, my wife hit it out of the park this year with an AppleTV for your's truly)? Chances are that the last time you felt happy you were doing something you wanted to do. You were with the people you like and wanted to be with. And you were doing whatever it was with whomever it was when you wanted to be doing it. Break that down. You. You. You. That's why the point of last weeks message was that happiness the way we quantify it is most often associated with selfishness.
That's a sucker-punch to your happy face isn't it.
But unless we take an honest look at what makes us happy we can't honestly answer the question, does God WANT me happy. And, by the way, selfishness is something that Jesus spoke against over and over.
So this week I thought I'd take a look at what makes God happy. And I assumed that the best place to start was with Jesus. If we knew what made Jesus happy then we could trust that those things that made Him happy would also make God happy. And if we knew what made God happy we could be assured that when we did those types of things He would indeed WANT us happy.
But there is a problem. Have you ever considered the passages of the Bible that express Jesus' happiness? First, you won't find that word associated with Jesus. Happy and Jesus just don't go together, right? I mean, take a look at every picture hanging up in pretty much every church over 25 years old and you will immediately notice that Jesus always had His poker-face on. It's like no matter what was going on in His life Jesus had permanently pursed lips. Is it possible that for that entire three years He walked the earth teaching people what God was really like that He never laughed. Never cracked a joke. Never had a moment when He wasn't thinking about that cross and mentally checking off each day.
Is it possible that God doesn't want us happy? If we subscribe to a Savior who was so intently focused on His sacrifice that He was never able to enjoy His life then how could we do any less than Jesus? Christians who's desire is to be like Jesus must also avoid any levity. Isn't that the logical conclusion?
No matter what we're told in the Bible, since we're told in many places to rejoice, be filled with joy and to be happy (Ecclesiastes 7:14 When times are good: be happy...), if Jesus were somber and we're supposed to be like Him then we must also assume a flat affect - unless we are clearing a temple.
Most Christians believe that Jesus wept, was saddened and was always faced with a vivid picture of His own impending suffering.
But, even though the Bible doesn't spell it out, I think Jesus laughed. But I don't think He laughed AT anyone (which takes about 75% of my laughter) and I don't think He laughed when one of his friends slipped and fell - no matter how ridiculous they looked. I don't think He joked about misfortune or even when someone got what was coming to them. I think He laughed in the presence of children. I think he laughed when Peter and his friends pulled that massive catch up fish up and He watched them frantically scream and holler for help to bring in the load that probably represented an entire years catch in one haul. I think he laughed a few of the times He was saying, "O you of little faith..." He would have had to! He had just done something incredibly miraculous in the face of His doubting disciples - He must have laughed because He knew all the crazy thoughts that were going through His disciples heads!
I think Jesus laughed when He spent time with His Father. I think He may have even laughed as the disciples were heading out to the mount of Olives the night He was betrayed. He looked over his shoulder and His gaze stopped young John Mark in his steps - wondering if Jesus would give him away and he'd be chased back to town. Instead I think Jesus smiled and chuckled to himself knowing that in a short time John Mark would be hysterically running through the grove in his birthday suit praying none of his friends saw him!
Could we say that Jesus was happy? I don't know. I think He had moments of happiness. But I do not believe that He chased happiness. I think His happiness was found in the God of Heaven and doing His will. I think Jesus was happy when God was happy and what makes God happy are simple things like when a gazelle gets the best of a crocodile. Or when someone who was so vocal about there not being a God finally comes to the conclusion that He is real and exists and loves them.
Honestly, I want to picture Jesus as happy. Not in spite of what He was to suffer but in tandem with it. Not happiness at the expense of every other emotion, but happiness along with times of sadness and loss and pain. It's those "negative" emotions that help us to more intensely experience those moments of happiness.
Holy Spirit, help me to be happy in the things that make God happy. Help me not to find pleasure in the failures and misfortunes of others or laugh at other's expense (this is a big one for me!). But to laugh and enjoy my life because of all that you've given me. Great kids who love you and a beautiful wife who loves you and me incredibly... Teach me what true happiness is.
Last week at Real Life Church we started a two week series called, Does God Want Me Happy? We kicked off the series looking at what generally makes us happy. Think about the last time you were happy - why were you happy? Was it because your family was together? Did you get a good present for your birthday (btw, my wife hit it out of the park this year with an AppleTV for your's truly)? Chances are that the last time you felt happy you were doing something you wanted to do. You were with the people you like and wanted to be with. And you were doing whatever it was with whomever it was when you wanted to be doing it. Break that down. You. You. You. That's why the point of last weeks message was that happiness the way we quantify it is most often associated with selfishness.
That's a sucker-punch to your happy face isn't it.
But unless we take an honest look at what makes us happy we can't honestly answer the question, does God WANT me happy. And, by the way, selfishness is something that Jesus spoke against over and over.
So this week I thought I'd take a look at what makes God happy. And I assumed that the best place to start was with Jesus. If we knew what made Jesus happy then we could trust that those things that made Him happy would also make God happy. And if we knew what made God happy we could be assured that when we did those types of things He would indeed WANT us happy.
But there is a problem. Have you ever considered the passages of the Bible that express Jesus' happiness? First, you won't find that word associated with Jesus. Happy and Jesus just don't go together, right? I mean, take a look at every picture hanging up in pretty much every church over 25 years old and you will immediately notice that Jesus always had His poker-face on. It's like no matter what was going on in His life Jesus had permanently pursed lips. Is it possible that for that entire three years He walked the earth teaching people what God was really like that He never laughed. Never cracked a joke. Never had a moment when He wasn't thinking about that cross and mentally checking off each day.
Is it possible that God doesn't want us happy? If we subscribe to a Savior who was so intently focused on His sacrifice that He was never able to enjoy His life then how could we do any less than Jesus? Christians who's desire is to be like Jesus must also avoid any levity. Isn't that the logical conclusion?
No matter what we're told in the Bible, since we're told in many places to rejoice, be filled with joy and to be happy (Ecclesiastes 7:14 When times are good: be happy...), if Jesus were somber and we're supposed to be like Him then we must also assume a flat affect - unless we are clearing a temple.
Most Christians believe that Jesus wept, was saddened and was always faced with a vivid picture of His own impending suffering.
But, even though the Bible doesn't spell it out, I think Jesus laughed. But I don't think He laughed AT anyone (which takes about 75% of my laughter) and I don't think He laughed when one of his friends slipped and fell - no matter how ridiculous they looked. I don't think He joked about misfortune or even when someone got what was coming to them. I think He laughed in the presence of children. I think he laughed when Peter and his friends pulled that massive catch up fish up and He watched them frantically scream and holler for help to bring in the load that probably represented an entire years catch in one haul. I think he laughed a few of the times He was saying, "O you of little faith..." He would have had to! He had just done something incredibly miraculous in the face of His doubting disciples - He must have laughed because He knew all the crazy thoughts that were going through His disciples heads!
I think Jesus laughed when He spent time with His Father. I think He may have even laughed as the disciples were heading out to the mount of Olives the night He was betrayed. He looked over his shoulder and His gaze stopped young John Mark in his steps - wondering if Jesus would give him away and he'd be chased back to town. Instead I think Jesus smiled and chuckled to himself knowing that in a short time John Mark would be hysterically running through the grove in his birthday suit praying none of his friends saw him!
Could we say that Jesus was happy? I don't know. I think He had moments of happiness. But I do not believe that He chased happiness. I think His happiness was found in the God of Heaven and doing His will. I think Jesus was happy when God was happy and what makes God happy are simple things like when a gazelle gets the best of a crocodile. Or when someone who was so vocal about there not being a God finally comes to the conclusion that He is real and exists and loves them.
Honestly, I want to picture Jesus as happy. Not in spite of what He was to suffer but in tandem with it. Not happiness at the expense of every other emotion, but happiness along with times of sadness and loss and pain. It's those "negative" emotions that help us to more intensely experience those moments of happiness.
Holy Spirit, help me to be happy in the things that make God happy. Help me not to find pleasure in the failures and misfortunes of others or laugh at other's expense (this is a big one for me!). But to laugh and enjoy my life because of all that you've given me. Great kids who love you and a beautiful wife who loves you and me incredibly... Teach me what true happiness is.
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Remodeling The House Of God
Day 142: Numbers 25, Psalm 142 & 2 Kings 16
I enjoy remodeling. I like putting a new twist on an existing room and updating the look and at times the layout. In our last home I removed walls, took out a non-functioning brick fireplace, exposed the hardwood floors and added new cabinets, pantry and new countertops to the kitchen as well as taking the floor back to it's original hard wood. That kind of work in my house is enjoyable and brings an increase in the look at value of a home.
In 2 Kings 16 I read about king Ahaz who began to remodel the Lord's Temple and I thought about the remodels the church has gone through over the years.
When I was a kid in church we sat in hard backed pews. We sang 4,5 or 6 verses of the hymns that had been chosen. I remember older people getting upset if the song leader only had us sing the first, third and fourth verses. Back then you wore your best to church on Sunday. You didn't talk about your failings or sins as a preacher. For my parents, they were expected to be the model of a perfect couple and family. The dutiful wife, the well-behaved kids. My dad always preached from behind the large wooden pulpit. Though he would walk out from behind on occasion he was expected to use it.
Today we sit in padded chairs. We sing praise songs that deal with how we feel about God or expresses one of His character traits but doesn't deal with theology much. Preachers are expected to be transparent about their lives, we let people bring drinks and food in the "auditorium."
My thought today is, what is okay to remodel in our worship and what's off limits?
Ahaz removed the sea (a small pool mounted on the backs of 12 bronze oxen in which the priests would wash before beginning their Temple rotation) and it's base and instead put it on a stone pedestal. He also removed the alter from the Temple and placed it next to an alter he had constructed to match one that he saw in Damascus. And he made some other changes to the Temple to suit his fancy... er, pagan idolatry.
In the Old Testament and Temple worship the items in the Temple proper were put in a specific layout to represent spiritual truths. The alter first, then the sea then the Temple with the table of show-bread, the lamp stand and the alter of incense and behind the curtain the Ark of the Covenant. Everything had a purpose and reason for being there. When Ahaz remodeled the Temple he was changing the way God had ordered worship to take place.
What is okay to remodel in worship today?
The way we sing? What we sing? The clothes we wear? The seats sit in? Food and dink or no?
Worship is about recognizing God's place in our lives and submitting ourselves to Jesus. Worship is not what I get out of it, but what I put into it. I don't go to worship to get filled, I go to worship to remember who fills me. I don't worship because of where I am or who I'm with I worship because He's everywhere and He's God with us - the hope of glory. So remodel my songs, my seat, the order of worship or the way in which I worship but don't mess with who I am worshiping.
I enjoy remodeling. I like putting a new twist on an existing room and updating the look and at times the layout. In our last home I removed walls, took out a non-functioning brick fireplace, exposed the hardwood floors and added new cabinets, pantry and new countertops to the kitchen as well as taking the floor back to it's original hard wood. That kind of work in my house is enjoyable and brings an increase in the look at value of a home.
In 2 Kings 16 I read about king Ahaz who began to remodel the Lord's Temple and I thought about the remodels the church has gone through over the years.
When I was a kid in church we sat in hard backed pews. We sang 4,5 or 6 verses of the hymns that had been chosen. I remember older people getting upset if the song leader only had us sing the first, third and fourth verses. Back then you wore your best to church on Sunday. You didn't talk about your failings or sins as a preacher. For my parents, they were expected to be the model of a perfect couple and family. The dutiful wife, the well-behaved kids. My dad always preached from behind the large wooden pulpit. Though he would walk out from behind on occasion he was expected to use it.
Today we sit in padded chairs. We sing praise songs that deal with how we feel about God or expresses one of His character traits but doesn't deal with theology much. Preachers are expected to be transparent about their lives, we let people bring drinks and food in the "auditorium."
My thought today is, what is okay to remodel in our worship and what's off limits?
Ahaz removed the sea (a small pool mounted on the backs of 12 bronze oxen in which the priests would wash before beginning their Temple rotation) and it's base and instead put it on a stone pedestal. He also removed the alter from the Temple and placed it next to an alter he had constructed to match one that he saw in Damascus. And he made some other changes to the Temple to suit his fancy... er, pagan idolatry.
In the Old Testament and Temple worship the items in the Temple proper were put in a specific layout to represent spiritual truths. The alter first, then the sea then the Temple with the table of show-bread, the lamp stand and the alter of incense and behind the curtain the Ark of the Covenant. Everything had a purpose and reason for being there. When Ahaz remodeled the Temple he was changing the way God had ordered worship to take place.
What is okay to remodel in worship today?
The way we sing? What we sing? The clothes we wear? The seats sit in? Food and dink or no?
Worship is about recognizing God's place in our lives and submitting ourselves to Jesus. Worship is not what I get out of it, but what I put into it. I don't go to worship to get filled, I go to worship to remember who fills me. I don't worship because of where I am or who I'm with I worship because He's everywhere and He's God with us - the hope of glory. So remodel my songs, my seat, the order of worship or the way in which I worship but don't mess with who I am worshiping.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
We're Not The Only Ones
Day 141: Numbers 24, Psalm 141 & 2 Kings 15
As a preacher I've met a lot of people who knew of God but didn't really know God. Just like Apollos in the book of Acts whom Priscilla and Aquila taught the way of God more fully too; some still deal with a mix of God and other stuff in their worship of Him. In Exodus and Deuteronomy we learn that the Lord your God is a jealous God. That being said, He does honor those who are trying to seek Him, even if they don't fully understand Him or how to go about finding Him.
Balaam in the book of Numbers is a man like this. Balak, the king of Moab, had heard of Balaam because, "those you bless are blessed and those you curse are cursed." Balaam's reputation preceded him, but this was a land and a people who were polytheists - they worshiped more than one God. That means that Balak didn't know which god Balaam was speaking to, only that he was successful in his blessings and curses. And that is what Balak was really after anyway.
But where did Balaam come from? He pops on the scene in Numbers 22 but he is not an Israelite. He is asked to curse Israel and that was really his first peek at this "people of God." But He was a God follower. God did speak to him and send angels to deliver messages to him and perform miracles in his life. However, Balaam had an incomplete understanding of God. Let's look at some of the things he did.
As a preacher I've met a lot of people who knew of God but didn't really know God. Just like Apollos in the book of Acts whom Priscilla and Aquila taught the way of God more fully too; some still deal with a mix of God and other stuff in their worship of Him. In Exodus and Deuteronomy we learn that the Lord your God is a jealous God. That being said, He does honor those who are trying to seek Him, even if they don't fully understand Him or how to go about finding Him.
Balaam in the book of Numbers is a man like this. Balak, the king of Moab, had heard of Balaam because, "those you bless are blessed and those you curse are cursed." Balaam's reputation preceded him, but this was a land and a people who were polytheists - they worshiped more than one God. That means that Balak didn't know which god Balaam was speaking to, only that he was successful in his blessings and curses. And that is what Balak was really after anyway.
But where did Balaam come from? He pops on the scene in Numbers 22 but he is not an Israelite. He is asked to curse Israel and that was really his first peek at this "people of God." But He was a God follower. God did speak to him and send angels to deliver messages to him and perform miracles in his life. However, Balaam had an incomplete understanding of God. Let's look at some of the things he did.
- He pressed God to let him go with Balak's men to bring a curse on Israel
- He beat his donkey, who was trying to save his life and then continued on the same journey despite the fact that the angel of God was there to kill him.
- He prepared alters to God with a man, Balak, who did not believe in the One True God.
- Twice he tried to determine God's will through the seeking of omens, nearly divination (which God expressly forbid) in order to determine the will of God - which he already in part knew.
But he did some things right as well.
- He prepared sacrifices for God (7 of them each time) in a very similar way as that prescribed by God to Moses (which was going on about the same time as Balaam was trying to curse them).
- He spoke only what God told him even though it made Balak furious.
Balaam did some things right and some things wrong, but he got this right, he followed God the best he could and said only what God told him. Here's the thing I find most amazing about this story. Balaam had no part in Israel and as far as we know never met Moses or spoke with any Israelite. He disappears after this encounter with Balak and only sees Israel from afar. Imagine if Balaam, a God follower, would have had the opportunity to speak with Moses and hear about all that God had done through him and for Israel in leaving Egypt and after. Balaam would have been blown away! Perhaps he could have gone with Moses into the tent of meeting and met God, speaking to Him as Moses did - face-to-face. All that Balaam would have learned about God - the 10 commands, the law, the method of worship and how to approach God. But he never got that chance. He saw God in the flame and the cloud but did not recognize Him.
Balaam has become for me a sad story. A story of what could have been. He was so close and yet so far away.
Don't let your way of worship or your personal interaction with God be so rigid that you fail to see God in all His people. Israel was God's chosen people but they were not His ONLY people. When we get to thinking that our way is the only way, at the exclusion of every other way, we miss God.
Now, I'm not talking about those who would worship in a way or live in a way that is contrary to the Scriptures - God is not inconsistent, He won't tell one person something is okay an another it is not - I'm saying that you and I are not the only ones who hear from God nor are we ever His only people. Though some may not know Him like we do, that does not mean they don't know Him. Seek God in every situation, every person, every opportunity and you'll be much more likely not to miss Him.
You're not the only one.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Always Pushing
Day 140: Numbers 23, Psalm 140 & 2 Kings 14
When I was growing up none of us kids were allowed to go to any dances except our senior prom. I suppose my parents believed (and not entirely without reason) that bad things have a tendency to happen when young people are that close to one another in a dark environment without strong adult supervision. But I don't want to speak about the spiritual evils of dancing, you can watch the movie.
What I want to talk about is how we all have a tendency to push.
For some reason my parents allowed me to go to prom my junior year. Perhaps it was my cunning argument that the girl I was "dating" at the time was a senior and this was my only opportunity to go to prom with her. Perhaps it was my sisters prodding that got them to trust me more than my older brother (for good reason! ha!). I don't know what it was and I didn't really care because I was going to prom my junior year.
That summer my family moved to another town and I attended every school dance my senior year.
For the last couple days I've been reading the story of Balaam and Balak in the book of Numbers. Balaam was a prophet of God and Balak was the king of the Moab. Balak had summoned Balaam to curse the Israelites as they wandered in the desert. Balak had heard and seen the destruction and power of God that was present with the Israelites and was worried for his own kingdom. He wanted Balaam to curse Israel because, as he said, "those you bless are blessed and those you curse are cursed."
Balaam did go with Balak but said that he would only speak what God told him to speak.
Let me break it down. Balaam went with Balak even though God, at first, said not to. Why did he go? Because he went back to God a second time and asked if he could. Even though Balaam should have said no himself, he went back and inquired of God. He pushed. So the second time God said he could go, but only because He knew that it was what Balaam really wanted to do anyway.
While Balaam was on his way with Balak's men an angel with a flaming sword stood in his path to kill him, but even this did not deter Balaam. After beating his donkey and then having a conversation with him (the donkey... read about it in chapter 22) he saw the angel but still wanted to go. It even took three attempts by Balak to get Balaam to curse Israel (which God wouldn't do) before he gave up.
Here's the moral. We're always pushing God. It's like, if at first God doesn't give you what you want, ask, ask again. God's desire is not to hem us in to His will but to guide us to Himself. Like Balaam we may speak only what God wants but we continue to push Him until He "gives in" as if that were possible. And like Balak when we don't get what we want we move to a different spot and try again. Perhaps God will do what I want Him to if I stand over here instead of over there...
We're always pushing God. We claim to be followers of Him but then often stop to ask, "are you sure that's the right way to go?" We are total back seat drivers with God. We treat Him more like a genie in a Bible than the all powerful God of the universe.
God, help me to follow You today. Not to question. Not to seek my own agenda. But to follow.
When I was growing up none of us kids were allowed to go to any dances except our senior prom. I suppose my parents believed (and not entirely without reason) that bad things have a tendency to happen when young people are that close to one another in a dark environment without strong adult supervision. But I don't want to speak about the spiritual evils of dancing, you can watch the movie.
What I want to talk about is how we all have a tendency to push.
For some reason my parents allowed me to go to prom my junior year. Perhaps it was my cunning argument that the girl I was "dating" at the time was a senior and this was my only opportunity to go to prom with her. Perhaps it was my sisters prodding that got them to trust me more than my older brother (for good reason! ha!). I don't know what it was and I didn't really care because I was going to prom my junior year.
That summer my family moved to another town and I attended every school dance my senior year.
For the last couple days I've been reading the story of Balaam and Balak in the book of Numbers. Balaam was a prophet of God and Balak was the king of the Moab. Balak had summoned Balaam to curse the Israelites as they wandered in the desert. Balak had heard and seen the destruction and power of God that was present with the Israelites and was worried for his own kingdom. He wanted Balaam to curse Israel because, as he said, "those you bless are blessed and those you curse are cursed."
Balaam did go with Balak but said that he would only speak what God told him to speak.
Let me break it down. Balaam went with Balak even though God, at first, said not to. Why did he go? Because he went back to God a second time and asked if he could. Even though Balaam should have said no himself, he went back and inquired of God. He pushed. So the second time God said he could go, but only because He knew that it was what Balaam really wanted to do anyway.
While Balaam was on his way with Balak's men an angel with a flaming sword stood in his path to kill him, but even this did not deter Balaam. After beating his donkey and then having a conversation with him (the donkey... read about it in chapter 22) he saw the angel but still wanted to go. It even took three attempts by Balak to get Balaam to curse Israel (which God wouldn't do) before he gave up.
Here's the moral. We're always pushing God. It's like, if at first God doesn't give you what you want, ask, ask again. God's desire is not to hem us in to His will but to guide us to Himself. Like Balaam we may speak only what God wants but we continue to push Him until He "gives in" as if that were possible. And like Balak when we don't get what we want we move to a different spot and try again. Perhaps God will do what I want Him to if I stand over here instead of over there...
We're always pushing God. We claim to be followers of Him but then often stop to ask, "are you sure that's the right way to go?" We are total back seat drivers with God. We treat Him more like a genie in a Bible than the all powerful God of the universe.
God, help me to follow You today. Not to question. Not to seek my own agenda. But to follow.
Monday, May 12, 2014
The Voice Of Truth May Not Be The Voice Of Blessing
Day 133: Numbers 16, Psalm 133 & 2 Kings 7
In 2 Kings 7 there is a siege on the city of Samaria and it has gotten so bad that families are killing their youngest children just to stay alive. There is money, but there is no food and the situation is dire. Soon the city will fall.
But Elisha the prophet of God makes a statement to one of the kings men who watches the gate of the city. He tells the man that tomorrow a "seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria." What's important here is not what exactly a seah and a shekel are, but that there will be such an abundance of food that these two coveted items will sell for pennies.
In the middle of a siege that appears to have no end in sight it's difficult to believe that anything could ever change. Especially when there is no possible way for it to happen. The Syrians had everything they needed to continue their siege for the foreseeable future - Samaria was going to crumble. It was so dire that the man Elisha was speaking with replied like this, "if the Lord himself should make windows in heaven, could this thing be true?" In the middle of the siege he was so convinced that there was no way out he could not fathom a way, even if God himself opened the doors of heaven. What he basically said was, "Elisha, you're full of it. There is no way for this to happen even IF God got involved."
Elisha's response was somewhat cryptic, "you shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it."
I wonder if Elisha knew every detail of a prophecy when it was revealed to him? Or maybe God just gave him that one sentence and that was it. I wonder if Elisha even knew exactly what his prophecy meant. It was the voice of God. It was the voice of Truth. But I don't know if either of them knew exactly what it meant.
Turns out, Elisha's prophecy comes true - but while it's a blessing for the people of Samaria and they are saved, it is not a blessing for the man who was in charge of the gate for the king. God had moved during the night and and made the Syrian army hear the sound of a great army advancing on them. They were so scared that they fled with only the clothes on their backs. They left tents, food, horses, donkeys, clothes, weapons, everything.
Once it was discovered and word got out the starving people of Samaria rushed out of the city gate to plunder the empty Syrian camp and in the process trampled the gate keeper. He heard the news - the city was saved and there was plenty of food to fill their bellies but he never tasted a morsel.
The voice of God is heard by people, but my question is, how do we distinguish the voice of truth from that of blessing or curse? From prophecy that will benefit and prophecy that will destroy? They may both be truth but one is certainly more desired than the other!
I know people who claim to have heard the voice of God, the truth about something in their future, so they move forward expecting it to happen. We would call that faith. But it appears that they force the prophecy to come true by means that God would not approve of. They may see the prophecy fulfilled in their lives but it doesn't turn out as they had planned. In the end it ends in pain and heartbreak instead of joy.
I guess as I think through this story in 2 Kings 7 I come to these conclusion about God's voice and what He chooses to reveal to us.
In 2 Kings 7 there is a siege on the city of Samaria and it has gotten so bad that families are killing their youngest children just to stay alive. There is money, but there is no food and the situation is dire. Soon the city will fall.
But Elisha the prophet of God makes a statement to one of the kings men who watches the gate of the city. He tells the man that tomorrow a "seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria." What's important here is not what exactly a seah and a shekel are, but that there will be such an abundance of food that these two coveted items will sell for pennies.
In the middle of a siege that appears to have no end in sight it's difficult to believe that anything could ever change. Especially when there is no possible way for it to happen. The Syrians had everything they needed to continue their siege for the foreseeable future - Samaria was going to crumble. It was so dire that the man Elisha was speaking with replied like this, "if the Lord himself should make windows in heaven, could this thing be true?" In the middle of the siege he was so convinced that there was no way out he could not fathom a way, even if God himself opened the doors of heaven. What he basically said was, "Elisha, you're full of it. There is no way for this to happen even IF God got involved."
Elisha's response was somewhat cryptic, "you shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it."
I wonder if Elisha knew every detail of a prophecy when it was revealed to him? Or maybe God just gave him that one sentence and that was it. I wonder if Elisha even knew exactly what his prophecy meant. It was the voice of God. It was the voice of Truth. But I don't know if either of them knew exactly what it meant.
Turns out, Elisha's prophecy comes true - but while it's a blessing for the people of Samaria and they are saved, it is not a blessing for the man who was in charge of the gate for the king. God had moved during the night and and made the Syrian army hear the sound of a great army advancing on them. They were so scared that they fled with only the clothes on their backs. They left tents, food, horses, donkeys, clothes, weapons, everything.
Once it was discovered and word got out the starving people of Samaria rushed out of the city gate to plunder the empty Syrian camp and in the process trampled the gate keeper. He heard the news - the city was saved and there was plenty of food to fill their bellies but he never tasted a morsel.
The voice of God is heard by people, but my question is, how do we distinguish the voice of truth from that of blessing or curse? From prophecy that will benefit and prophecy that will destroy? They may both be truth but one is certainly more desired than the other!
I know people who claim to have heard the voice of God, the truth about something in their future, so they move forward expecting it to happen. We would call that faith. But it appears that they force the prophecy to come true by means that God would not approve of. They may see the prophecy fulfilled in their lives but it doesn't turn out as they had planned. In the end it ends in pain and heartbreak instead of joy.
I guess as I think through this story in 2 Kings 7 I come to these conclusion about God's voice and what He chooses to reveal to us.
- God's Truth is not always blessing, even if it appears as such because it's what we want to hear.
- God may reveal parts of the story but rarely reveals the whole thing. It is possible to misinterpret the outcome of the prophecy based on a single detail you may be privy to.
- God is never wrong. If it doesn't work out just like we thought it's because we misinterpreted, not because He made a mistake.
- You may have heard His voice but missed His point.
- Prophecy may be for our benefit but it is ALWAYS for God's glory.
God reveals enough so that when it comes true He is recognized as God. But He seldom gives us every detail because first, every details isn't important or necessary to Him receiving glory and second, He is constantly trying to expand our measure for faith.
So keep this in mind the next time you hear God's voice and begin to move toward what you think is His plan... He will always accomplish His will through His means. Let me explain it this way. If you know you have a test coming up and have a vision that you receive an "A" on the test, but then you cheat to fulfill that prophecy you are NOT bringing glory to God or honoring His Word. You may have received a vision of Truth - you got an "A" but there will be consequences you didn't see because you tried to bring it about by your own hand.
When you receive a vision let God be God. He will always bring about what He intends and He will always do so in accordance with His Word and His character. If you have to sin to bring about your vision, it may not have been from God and I would be worried about the final outcome.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Is It Easier To Listen To Or Speak Truth?
Day 126: Number 9, Psalm 126 & 1 Kings 22
In today's reading in 1 Kings Ahab the king of Israel want to go to war with Syria and take back the city of Ramoth-gilead along with the help of Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah. But before Jehoshaphat will go to war with Ahab he wants to hear from the Lord - not a bad idea. So Ahab calls all these prophets who encourage him to go to war and say that God will give Ramoth-gilead into his hands. That's good news, right?! Well, Jehoshaphat wasn't convinced so another prophet was called, Micaiah. Micaiah was warned to give the king a favorable word, like the other prophets had done but Micaiah would only speak what he heard from the Lord. Here's what he told the king, "if you go up to Ramoth-gilead you will die and the people of Israel will be scattered."
It's not easy to hear things that we don't want to hear. Nobody likes to be told they are in the wrong or that something they want to do is not wise or what God would want for them. But is it easier to listen to the truth or to speak it?
I was once in a situation where I felt compelled to do whatever I could to keep an individual from making, what I believed, was a terrible mistake. It was not easy. This individual had their heart set on something that I could see would end poorly for them and everyone involved. So I tried to speak the truth into their situation, but they wouldn't listen. They heard what I said and I think they could even see that what I was saying was probably the truth, but they so wanted what they they wanted and had a few others telling them what they wanted to hear so my advice was disregarded.
It's not easy to speak the truth to those you love, especially when you know they do not want to hear it. And I'm not in any way comparing myself to the prophet Micaiah, I'm only comparing situations.
It is much easier to tell those you love what they want to hear, but I don't think that is the loving thing to do. While it might make them feel better in the short-term who will they come to when it all comes crashing down? You'll either be the bad guy up front or the bad guy on the back end of the devastation.
As a pastor, I want to tell the truth even if it is painful. I don't want to say "I told you so" as someone is picking up the pieces of their lives, I want to be able to help them avoid breaking in the first place.
So here's my encouragement. I think that we would all be a lot better off if we stopped telling our friends and family members just what we thought they wanted to hear and start telling them the truth as we see it. You could be wrong - I could be wrong - but I'd much rather warn and be proven wrong than encourage and have my fear realized.
As a pastor I'm either going to be the bad guy on the front end or the back, I choose the front end just in case it helps someone avoid trouble down the road.
The next time someone tells you something difficult don't blow it off, give yourself time to process and consider, they may just be the voice of God helping you to avoid devastation.
In today's reading in 1 Kings Ahab the king of Israel want to go to war with Syria and take back the city of Ramoth-gilead along with the help of Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah. But before Jehoshaphat will go to war with Ahab he wants to hear from the Lord - not a bad idea. So Ahab calls all these prophets who encourage him to go to war and say that God will give Ramoth-gilead into his hands. That's good news, right?! Well, Jehoshaphat wasn't convinced so another prophet was called, Micaiah. Micaiah was warned to give the king a favorable word, like the other prophets had done but Micaiah would only speak what he heard from the Lord. Here's what he told the king, "if you go up to Ramoth-gilead you will die and the people of Israel will be scattered."
It's not easy to hear things that we don't want to hear. Nobody likes to be told they are in the wrong or that something they want to do is not wise or what God would want for them. But is it easier to listen to the truth or to speak it?
I was once in a situation where I felt compelled to do whatever I could to keep an individual from making, what I believed, was a terrible mistake. It was not easy. This individual had their heart set on something that I could see would end poorly for them and everyone involved. So I tried to speak the truth into their situation, but they wouldn't listen. They heard what I said and I think they could even see that what I was saying was probably the truth, but they so wanted what they they wanted and had a few others telling them what they wanted to hear so my advice was disregarded.
It's not easy to speak the truth to those you love, especially when you know they do not want to hear it. And I'm not in any way comparing myself to the prophet Micaiah, I'm only comparing situations.
It is much easier to tell those you love what they want to hear, but I don't think that is the loving thing to do. While it might make them feel better in the short-term who will they come to when it all comes crashing down? You'll either be the bad guy up front or the bad guy on the back end of the devastation.
As a pastor, I want to tell the truth even if it is painful. I don't want to say "I told you so" as someone is picking up the pieces of their lives, I want to be able to help them avoid breaking in the first place.
So here's my encouragement. I think that we would all be a lot better off if we stopped telling our friends and family members just what we thought they wanted to hear and start telling them the truth as we see it. You could be wrong - I could be wrong - but I'd much rather warn and be proven wrong than encourage and have my fear realized.
As a pastor I'm either going to be the bad guy on the front end or the back, I choose the front end just in case it helps someone avoid trouble down the road.
The next time someone tells you something difficult don't blow it off, give yourself time to process and consider, they may just be the voice of God helping you to avoid devastation.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
He's Got A Plan, Not Just A Paddle
Day 94: Leviticus 4, Psalm 94 & 2 Samuel 14
I'm just gonna jump in today because I'm in love with this concept!
In 2 Samuel as we looked yesterday Amnon had raped Tamar and for that his brother Absolom killed him - well deserved. But because they were both sons of King David Absolom was allowed to live although in exile. However, King David knew of Amnon's sin and so, though he was angry with Absolom for exacting the punishment, he knew it was just.
Anyway, after some time Joab, King David's right hand man could sense that David desired to have Absolom restored to him but couldn't bring himself to ask for it. So Joab devised a plan and with the help of a wise woman from Tekoa, he carried it out to perfection.
I won't go into all that had happened, you can read 2 Samuel 14 if you'd like all the details, however, in the speech by the woman from Tekoa she says one thing that I just really loved. In her story to the king she makes this statement, "God does not take away life, but plans ways so that the banished one will not be cast out from Him." I love that!
Now, I will be honest with you because if you're a skeptic reading this you're gonna call me on it anyway. God has taken away life. We've read a whole host of times that He has done that already this year and we're not even a 1/3 of the way through the Old Testament. However, that is NOT God's first choice. And when it does come time for that punishment it is either justified by the sin or there have been ways He's tried to bring about a change in the person(s) but it hasn't worked.
I would assert that God's first desire is not to take away life but to find a way to bring those who have been cast out back into relationship with Him. That is, after all, the point of Jesus and the cross! We were all banished because of our sin, but because God did not desire to take away our lives He sent His Son to the cross in our place that we would no longer be banished because of sin but instead restored.
And if you happen to be reading this and stand condemned because of your sin you need to know that God's desire is not to take away your life, but He has been consistently planning ways to end your banishment so that you will not be cast out, but brought into relationship!
Every experience you have in life has one goal from God's perspective, they are His plans to end your banishment. You may not recognize the blessings or discipline or punishment as a plan, but I guarantee you that is exactly what they are. He has a plan for you to be in relationship with Him so that when His Son returns you will not ultimately be cast out, but brought in.
So that fight you got into. That arrest. Your argument with your spouse or child or boss. That car wreck or DUI or overdoes... those were all part of His plan to put you in a place where you could hear His voice and would respond to His call. He is not seeking your death but your life. And not a life separated from Himself, banished, but a life of relationship and involvement.
Do you feel like your on the outside looking in? Does it feel like God is out to get you? A little change in perspective will help you see that He IS out to get you - to get you from the sin you're caught in. To get you from the darkness and bring you into the light. To get you from the grip of satan, fear, death and depression and bring you into love, life and the hand of Jesus.
God is planning right now, the "good" and the "bad" together, for the purpose of restoring you to Himself as He's desired all along. To end your banishment and rescue you from being cast out. You don't have to be an spiritual orphan any more. Your time in Satan's foster care system can end. You can be a child of God.
He's got a plan. Trust it.
I'm just gonna jump in today because I'm in love with this concept!
In 2 Samuel as we looked yesterday Amnon had raped Tamar and for that his brother Absolom killed him - well deserved. But because they were both sons of King David Absolom was allowed to live although in exile. However, King David knew of Amnon's sin and so, though he was angry with Absolom for exacting the punishment, he knew it was just.
Anyway, after some time Joab, King David's right hand man could sense that David desired to have Absolom restored to him but couldn't bring himself to ask for it. So Joab devised a plan and with the help of a wise woman from Tekoa, he carried it out to perfection.
I won't go into all that had happened, you can read 2 Samuel 14 if you'd like all the details, however, in the speech by the woman from Tekoa she says one thing that I just really loved. In her story to the king she makes this statement, "God does not take away life, but plans ways so that the banished one will not be cast out from Him." I love that!
Now, I will be honest with you because if you're a skeptic reading this you're gonna call me on it anyway. God has taken away life. We've read a whole host of times that He has done that already this year and we're not even a 1/3 of the way through the Old Testament. However, that is NOT God's first choice. And when it does come time for that punishment it is either justified by the sin or there have been ways He's tried to bring about a change in the person(s) but it hasn't worked.
I would assert that God's first desire is not to take away life but to find a way to bring those who have been cast out back into relationship with Him. That is, after all, the point of Jesus and the cross! We were all banished because of our sin, but because God did not desire to take away our lives He sent His Son to the cross in our place that we would no longer be banished because of sin but instead restored.
And if you happen to be reading this and stand condemned because of your sin you need to know that God's desire is not to take away your life, but He has been consistently planning ways to end your banishment so that you will not be cast out, but brought into relationship!
Every experience you have in life has one goal from God's perspective, they are His plans to end your banishment. You may not recognize the blessings or discipline or punishment as a plan, but I guarantee you that is exactly what they are. He has a plan for you to be in relationship with Him so that when His Son returns you will not ultimately be cast out, but brought in.
So that fight you got into. That arrest. Your argument with your spouse or child or boss. That car wreck or DUI or overdoes... those were all part of His plan to put you in a place where you could hear His voice and would respond to His call. He is not seeking your death but your life. And not a life separated from Himself, banished, but a life of relationship and involvement.
Do you feel like your on the outside looking in? Does it feel like God is out to get you? A little change in perspective will help you see that He IS out to get you - to get you from the sin you're caught in. To get you from the darkness and bring you into the light. To get you from the grip of satan, fear, death and depression and bring you into love, life and the hand of Jesus.
God is planning right now, the "good" and the "bad" together, for the purpose of restoring you to Himself as He's desired all along. To end your banishment and rescue you from being cast out. You don't have to be an spiritual orphan any more. Your time in Satan's foster care system can end. You can be a child of God.
He's got a plan. Trust it.
A Lesson In Sin From A Story Of Credit
Day 93: Leviticus 3, Psalm 93 & 2 Samuel 13
Several times in my life I have just had to have something and couldn't wait. You've been there, right? Perhaps it was a new video game, the latest apple device or technology. When you just have to have to have something you'll do anything to justify it's expense. Often, that new gadget, piece of furniture or clothing item or jewelry, gets put on a credit card because we just have to have it right now. And many times, while we're still paying the credit card company for that item we just couldn't live without something new and improved catches our eye. Then what we have doesn't seem so great anymore.
I wonder if this could be sin for me? The Bible say that I am to be content and also that I shouldn't be in debt. But I show a lack of contentment and a disregard for God by actively purchasing things on credit that I know I can't afford right now. In the end, that item that I just had to get becomes something that I hate because I end up paying for something long after it's newness and technology becomes outdated.
In the 2 Samuel passage for today you will read the story of Amnon and Tamar. Amnon, one of King David's sons, was in love with Tamar. He was so in love with her that it made him ill. One of his friends, one of those "friends" that probably often got him in trouble and was a bad influence, helped him devise a plan to be alone with Tamar. The plan went like this:
Several times in my life I have just had to have something and couldn't wait. You've been there, right? Perhaps it was a new video game, the latest apple device or technology. When you just have to have to have something you'll do anything to justify it's expense. Often, that new gadget, piece of furniture or clothing item or jewelry, gets put on a credit card because we just have to have it right now. And many times, while we're still paying the credit card company for that item we just couldn't live without something new and improved catches our eye. Then what we have doesn't seem so great anymore.
I wonder if this could be sin for me? The Bible say that I am to be content and also that I shouldn't be in debt. But I show a lack of contentment and a disregard for God by actively purchasing things on credit that I know I can't afford right now. In the end, that item that I just had to get becomes something that I hate because I end up paying for something long after it's newness and technology becomes outdated.
In the 2 Samuel passage for today you will read the story of Amnon and Tamar. Amnon, one of King David's sons, was in love with Tamar. He was so in love with her that it made him ill. One of his friends, one of those "friends" that probably often got him in trouble and was a bad influence, helped him devise a plan to be alone with Tamar. The plan went like this:
- Pretend to be sick to gain the sympathy of your father the King
- Tell the King you would feel better if Tamar came to your home and made you some food
- Tamar will come because she also has sympathy for you and wants to see you well.
- When the time is right send all your attendants away so you and Tamar are alone
- Do whatever you please.
And that is exactly what happened. Amnon lied to his father David. Deceived Tamar. Plotted to be alone with her and then raped her.
Tamar tried to get Amnon to stop and even told him that if he just asked his father, David, he would give Tamar to him as his wife. But Amnon didn't want to wait that long.
Amnon had four opportunities to get out of the sin he had planned to commit. Once the plan was in place he could have simply not followed through with it. He could have recognized his friends poor advice and left it alone. Even after lying to the King he had the opportunity to simply eat the food Tamar had prepared and send her away without committing sin. He could have chosen not to send away all his attendants so that he would not have been alone with her and therefore had not opportunity to violate her. And once he had her alone he could have taken her good advice and asked his father for her hand so that he would not have committed sin.
But he refused all four opportunities. He carried out his evil plot and his sin was established. But once he had taken what he wanted the text says that he actually, "hated her more than he had loved her" and had her sent away. Which she again tried to talk him out of saying that this sin would be worst than the first. But he would not listen.
Sin is like this, it builds on itself a little at a time until it is complete. And with every step closer to the sin it becomes harder to walk away from. In the end we are paying for something that we no longer want. Discipline from God is best avoided on the front end.
The Bible says that you will not be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted to sin God will always provide a way to stand up under it so you do not sin. Amnon had multiple chances to stand up and avoid his sin, but with every step he took he became more mired in his own lust and depravity.
Stop listening to those who would give you poor advice or actually provide you with ways to sin. When God presents you with an out, take it. Even to the moment you are ready to sin God is still offering you the chance to stop, you only go too far when you've actually committed the sin, stop it before it gets there. But better yet, never plot evil and you will be much better off.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)