Matthew 5:25 "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison."
Jesus is with a bunch of his followers on the mountainside and he begins to teach them about the ways of the kingdom of God. Many of his teachings are very practical truths about the ways of the kingdom of God versus the ways of the kingdom of this world. In this verse, Jesus addresses disputes with others.
I like how Jesus tells us to "settle matters quickly...while you are still with him in the way." Often I let conflict go on too long unresolved. I have learned to some degree and am still learning that it is almost always best to deal with conflict and disputes right away. Sometimes it is good to let emotions settle and sleep on things, but often times it's best to deal with what's got to be dealt with right now. When I let things go they often become much more trouble than they were in the first place.
Dear Jesus, help me deal with what I need to deal with today and get it done. Amen.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Designed to be Broken
Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
According to the text, David has just committed adultery with Bathsheba. David writes this agonizing song about his guilt and sin. I wonder if this was truly penned right after his fun with Bathsheba and if he was truly feeling remorseful, why then did he have Urriah killed?
In any event, a broken and contrite heart is what God appreciates. I believe God wants us to have a broken and contrite heart all the time. We should be broken over our sin, the sins of the world, and the pain and suffering of the world. We should be broken because when we are broken we cannot do anything on our own and we must rely on the God. When we are broken we are at our best-totally dependent on our creator and savior. In some sense, could you say we were designed to be broken?
Dear Jesus, help me to be a broken man. Help me to agonize over my sin and the sin of this world. Help me to rely on you and you alone for everything. Amen.
According to the text, David has just committed adultery with Bathsheba. David writes this agonizing song about his guilt and sin. I wonder if this was truly penned right after his fun with Bathsheba and if he was truly feeling remorseful, why then did he have Urriah killed?
In any event, a broken and contrite heart is what God appreciates. I believe God wants us to have a broken and contrite heart all the time. We should be broken over our sin, the sins of the world, and the pain and suffering of the world. We should be broken because when we are broken we cannot do anything on our own and we must rely on the God. When we are broken we are at our best-totally dependent on our creator and savior. In some sense, could you say we were designed to be broken?
Dear Jesus, help me to be a broken man. Help me to agonize over my sin and the sin of this world. Help me to rely on you and you alone for everything. Amen.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Ripe Fields in a Post-Christian Land
John 4:35 "I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest."
Jesus is with his disciples in Samaria and is sharing the gospel with a crowd there. He tells his disciples that there are many people here who are ready and willing to be saved. The harvest is ripe as Jesus says.
There are many people around me everyday who need Jesus. Not only do they need Jesus, but they would be very open to accepting Him. Today many people in our post-Christian, post-modern culture are very into spirituality and faith. As a Christian, I need to take advantage of a very ripe field. I need to be more proactive about reaping the harvest and taking advantage of the cultural soil we find ourselves in.
Dear Jesus, help me to open my eyes and see the fields as you see them. Amen.
Jesus is with his disciples in Samaria and is sharing the gospel with a crowd there. He tells his disciples that there are many people here who are ready and willing to be saved. The harvest is ripe as Jesus says.
There are many people around me everyday who need Jesus. Not only do they need Jesus, but they would be very open to accepting Him. Today many people in our post-Christian, post-modern culture are very into spirituality and faith. As a Christian, I need to take advantage of a very ripe field. I need to be more proactive about reaping the harvest and taking advantage of the cultural soil we find ourselves in.
Dear Jesus, help me to open my eyes and see the fields as you see them. Amen.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Forever Young
1 Timothy 4:12 "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."
Paul is encouraging Timothy, his protege, to set an example for all believers even though he is considered "young."
I turned 30 this year and am having a hard time with it. I don't know if I am young or old. In my job I feel old. I am a 30 year old youth pastor with 11 years of experience and I hang out with 13 and 14 year olds most days. On the other hand, I am only 30. I have most of my life still before me. I guess either way I look at it, Paul's instruction is still important for me. I must continually set an example to those around me in my speech, my life, my love, my faith and my purity. I cannot "coast" or take it easy because of my age and what I may have accomplished already. I must daily set an example because people are always watching me-Christ included!
Dear Jesus, help me to be a better example to my wife, my kids, my family, my friends, my students, my co-workers, my volunteers and my neighbors. Amen.
Paul is encouraging Timothy, his protege, to set an example for all believers even though he is considered "young."
I turned 30 this year and am having a hard time with it. I don't know if I am young or old. In my job I feel old. I am a 30 year old youth pastor with 11 years of experience and I hang out with 13 and 14 year olds most days. On the other hand, I am only 30. I have most of my life still before me. I guess either way I look at it, Paul's instruction is still important for me. I must continually set an example to those around me in my speech, my life, my love, my faith and my purity. I cannot "coast" or take it easy because of my age and what I may have accomplished already. I must daily set an example because people are always watching me-Christ included!
Dear Jesus, help me to be a better example to my wife, my kids, my family, my friends, my students, my co-workers, my volunteers and my neighbors. Amen.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Keep At It
James 5 :16 "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
James is telling the believers to pray for each other. He points to Elijah as a man of prayer who had his prayers answered by God. James says that the prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective-they change things and are honored by God.
I oftentimes question the significance of prayer. I see prayer unanswered and wonder if it makes any real difference. But here James insists the prayers of a righteous man are effective. Maybe I am not a righteous man? But maybe God has different plans? I guess all I can do is trust in my prayers but more importantly trust in the one who answers prayers. So for now, I'll keep at it.
Dear Jesus, help me to put my faith in you. And please hear my prayers. Amen.
James is telling the believers to pray for each other. He points to Elijah as a man of prayer who had his prayers answered by God. James says that the prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective-they change things and are honored by God.
I oftentimes question the significance of prayer. I see prayer unanswered and wonder if it makes any real difference. But here James insists the prayers of a righteous man are effective. Maybe I am not a righteous man? But maybe God has different plans? I guess all I can do is trust in my prayers but more importantly trust in the one who answers prayers. So for now, I'll keep at it.
Dear Jesus, help me to put my faith in you. And please hear my prayers. Amen.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Cheat Me Please
1 Cor. 6:7 "The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?"
Paul is responding to the fact that many of the Corinthian believers were suing one another and settling disputes in front of nonbelievers in courts of law according to the states laws. Paul says they should be brothers and settle disputes in a gentle and loving manner. He essentially says in verse 7, isn't it better to lose than to fight with a brother over earthly matters?
I love this verse and thinks this shows the attitude we should have as Christians. We are to be humble. Oftentimes it is better to lose or to be wronged and cheated. Winning the battle or winning a fight is not the Christian way. We need to learn to let things go and forgive and allow others to have the upper hand. There are some things definitely worth fighting for, our pride is not one of them.
Dear Jesus, help me to care less and less about my pride and my personal sense of fairness. Help me be OK about being cheated and wronged. Amen.
Paul is responding to the fact that many of the Corinthian believers were suing one another and settling disputes in front of nonbelievers in courts of law according to the states laws. Paul says they should be brothers and settle disputes in a gentle and loving manner. He essentially says in verse 7, isn't it better to lose than to fight with a brother over earthly matters?
I love this verse and thinks this shows the attitude we should have as Christians. We are to be humble. Oftentimes it is better to lose or to be wronged and cheated. Winning the battle or winning a fight is not the Christian way. We need to learn to let things go and forgive and allow others to have the upper hand. There are some things definitely worth fighting for, our pride is not one of them.
Dear Jesus, help me to care less and less about my pride and my personal sense of fairness. Help me be OK about being cheated and wronged. Amen.
Monday, May 11, 2009
A New Kind of Slave
Romans 6: 18 "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."
Paul is saying that before Christ, we were slaves to sin. Sin controlled us and we were slaves to it. Now, because of Christ we are free from sin and are now slaves to righteousness.
As a slave, you have no control over what you can and cannot do. Your master controls your every move. It's easy to see how we were once slaves to sin. Sin controlled us and it was impossible to break free under our own power. Now we should be under the same control in regards to righteousness. Paul says we are slaves to righteousness. Righteousness should control our every thought and action.
Dear Jesus, help me to see my new life in you as a slave to righteousness. Help me to pursue justice and mercy each day. Amen.
Paul is saying that before Christ, we were slaves to sin. Sin controlled us and we were slaves to it. Now, because of Christ we are free from sin and are now slaves to righteousness.
As a slave, you have no control over what you can and cannot do. Your master controls your every move. It's easy to see how we were once slaves to sin. Sin controlled us and it was impossible to break free under our own power. Now we should be under the same control in regards to righteousness. Paul says we are slaves to righteousness. Righteousness should control our every thought and action.
Dear Jesus, help me to see my new life in you as a slave to righteousness. Help me to pursue justice and mercy each day. Amen.
Friday, May 08, 2009
Boasting of what he has and does...
1 John 2:15-17 "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."
John is encouraging the believers to not love the things of this world. Everything in this world ultimately passes away.
I too easily fall in love with the world. I particularly am challenged when John mentions "boasting of what he has and does." I often times think about my stuff and my career. I like my stuff and am proud of my career. These will all pass away eventually. It may not seem like I am loving them, but I sure give them a lot of attention and thought. I need to love the kingdom and not the world.
Dear Jesus, help me to first love you and your kingdom and not care for the things of this world. Amen.
John is encouraging the believers to not love the things of this world. Everything in this world ultimately passes away.
I too easily fall in love with the world. I particularly am challenged when John mentions "boasting of what he has and does." I often times think about my stuff and my career. I like my stuff and am proud of my career. These will all pass away eventually. It may not seem like I am loving them, but I sure give them a lot of attention and thought. I need to love the kingdom and not the world.
Dear Jesus, help me to first love you and your kingdom and not care for the things of this world. Amen.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Trouble
1 Thess. 3:3 "...But, of course, you know that such troubles are going to happen to us Christians."
Paul is referring to the troubles the Thessalonian church had been dealing with recently. He must have had some specific troubles in mind as he refers to them as "such troubles." Paul makes it clear that trouble comes with the Christian territory.
The way of Jesus is not always easy. It was not intended to be. There will be heartbreak, failure, disappointment, and pain. The way of Jesus can be difficult. It can be treacherous. But we have a God who walked this treacherous way himself. He was there and is there now with us during the darkest of times. We who are weak can have hope in he who is strong.
Dear Jesus, during my times of weakness and trouble, help me to rely on you. Amen.
Paul is referring to the troubles the Thessalonian church had been dealing with recently. He must have had some specific troubles in mind as he refers to them as "such troubles." Paul makes it clear that trouble comes with the Christian territory.
The way of Jesus is not always easy. It was not intended to be. There will be heartbreak, failure, disappointment, and pain. The way of Jesus can be difficult. It can be treacherous. But we have a God who walked this treacherous way himself. He was there and is there now with us during the darkest of times. We who are weak can have hope in he who is strong.
Dear Jesus, during my times of weakness and trouble, help me to rely on you. Amen.
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