A Kick in the Gut for my Heart

Psalm 78:35-37 "Then they remembered that God was their rock, that their redeemer was the Most High. But they followed him only with their words; they lied to him with their tongues. Their hearts were not loyal to him. They did not keep his covenant."

The psalmist is recalling the history of the Israelites relationship with Yahweh. He records how the Israelites again and again turned away from God despite of how faithful and patient He was with them.

This passage hit me in the stomach! How often do I lie to God with my mouth? How often do I say one thing, yet do another? My intentions are good, my thoughts are good, but that gets me nowhere. Talk is cheap and I talk a big game! I so wish I talked less and did more! I have this God who loves me unconditionally and continually forgives me and lifts me up. And yet again and again, like wayward Israel I lie to him and cheat on him with my heart!

Oh God, forgive me and help me to see You alone deserve my heart! Amen.

The More the Merrier

Matthew 20:16 "And so it is, many who are first now will be last then; and those who are last now, will be first then."

Jesus just got done telling a story about the kingdom of God that surely messed with his disciples, as it messes with me. The boss in the story hires workers at different hours of the day and at the end of the day he pays them all the same-despite how long they worked. The workers who began in the morning and worked all day complain they were getting paid the same as the guys who started in the evening. But the boss argues he can do what he wants with his money and they agreed to work all day for that wage. How unfair!

I have to be honest here and empathize with the complaining workers. They worked all day for the big guy and at the end of it all, he compensates them the same as the guy who shows up 8 hours later! It doesn't seem right. It doesn't seem fair. This just goes to show that Jesus is the ultimate revolutionary and that the ways of the world are different from the ways of the kingdom. At the end of his story, Jesus says in his kingdom the first shall be last and the last shall be first. That's the way it is and I better get on board with that and celebrate what God is doing and what he will do. I should rejoice over those who turn to Christ after me. The more the merrier anyway!

Dear Jesus, help me to love those who have not yet turned to you and help me to see everyone as you see them! Amen.

The Real Deal

Hebrews 1:3 "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word."

Jesus Christ is the exact representation of God. He exemplifies and represents God's character and nature because he is after all God.

We often say or wish or hope we could see God. If we could just hear from him or talk to him face to face, things would be better, we say. Well, we have seen God-in Jesus! We have his words, stories and miracles recorded for us in the gospels. All we need to do is read them and meditate on them and in that way we have seen God.

Dear Jesus, help me to spend more time with you each day. Amen.

Practice Makes Perfect

Matthew 7:24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."

Jesus is telling his followers that they need to not only hear what he is saying and understand it, but they need to put it into practice as well. If they practice what he preaches, they will be wise. If they do not, they are foolish. Interestingly, you could hear and understand what Jesus teaches, but only if you practice it are you wise.

I try to be a good listener. I also am fairly bright. I think I have done a good job hearing and understanding the teachings of Jesus. Now I need to practice more. This is where I fall short. I need to do some more "doing" and start practicing what I hear and understand.

Dear Jesus, help me to practice your teachings! Help me to get better at them each day! Amen.