1 Thess. 1:3 "We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."
Paul is writing to the Christians in Thessalonica and thanking them and commending them for their faith and the great example they are setting. Apparently, Paul was very proud of and happy with the Christians there.
Paul thanks them for their work, labor, and endurance. He also observes that each one of these qualities was spurred on by faith, love, and hope. The Thessalonian Christians did not work or labor to receive credit or simply because a job had to be done. They did what they did because of the love, hope, and faith in their hearts. Their visible actions resulted from their invisible qualities. How many of my actions result from my love, faith or hope? I need to start there. My deeds are worthless without love. My talk is cheap without hope. I need to begin with the heart today.
Dear Jesus, help my heart be right today. Amen.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Humble Pie
Ephesians 4:2 "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
Paul is telling the Ephesians how to live as followers of Jesus, particularly in their relationships with one another. Paul calls for unity in the body and urges them to be humble, gentle and patient with one another.
I love humility. I think it is my favorite trait in people. To me, humility is thinking about others more than thinking about me. It's allowing others to talk about themselves and I listen. It's taking a backseat to others. To do this, we must put our pride on the shelf. I like to think of myself as humble, but I once heard "if you have to say you're a humble person, you probably are not." Today, I need to be humble and put my wife and kids first. And tomorrow I'll let someone else go first.
Dear Jesus, help me be like you and put myself last. Amen.
Paul is telling the Ephesians how to live as followers of Jesus, particularly in their relationships with one another. Paul calls for unity in the body and urges them to be humble, gentle and patient with one another.
I love humility. I think it is my favorite trait in people. To me, humility is thinking about others more than thinking about me. It's allowing others to talk about themselves and I listen. It's taking a backseat to others. To do this, we must put our pride on the shelf. I like to think of myself as humble, but I once heard "if you have to say you're a humble person, you probably are not." Today, I need to be humble and put my wife and kids first. And tomorrow I'll let someone else go first.
Dear Jesus, help me be like you and put myself last. Amen.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Abound
2 Cor. 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."
Paul says God is gracious and he will give us all we need to "abound in every good work."
God wants us to succeed. He wants us to abound. And we have to remember that when we "abound" it is due to his grace and his provision. This verse just reminds me again, that all good gifts come from him. At all times, no matter the need, God will help me abound. So with that confidence and reassurance I need to abound in my marriage, my family, and my ministry today. I need to not just survive, or get by-God has bigger plans than that. Today I abound.
Dear Jesus, thank you for calling me to something so much greater. Amen.
Paul says God is gracious and he will give us all we need to "abound in every good work."
God wants us to succeed. He wants us to abound. And we have to remember that when we "abound" it is due to his grace and his provision. This verse just reminds me again, that all good gifts come from him. At all times, no matter the need, God will help me abound. So with that confidence and reassurance I need to abound in my marriage, my family, and my ministry today. I need to not just survive, or get by-God has bigger plans than that. Today I abound.
Dear Jesus, thank you for calling me to something so much greater. Amen.
Friday, November 20, 2009
The Unseen
2 Cor. 4:18 "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
Paul faced many hardships on his missionary journeys. As he was preaching about heaven and hell and the kingdom of God, he had to face very real and earthly challenges. He knew what it was like to be hungry, to be homeless, to be persecuted. And even though he had these very real problems right in front of him each day, he encourages us to not pay attention to them, but rather fix our eyes on the unseen.
Why is this so hard? I see and think about my earthly problems each day. I spend most of my day concerning myself with what is seen-my home, my car, my work, my finances, my yard, my clothes... And when do I think about the unseen? How often do I think about heaven and hell, angels and demons, souls and eternity? Each day I must do this. Today I will spend time on this.
Dear Jesus, help me think about the unseen. Amen.
Paul faced many hardships on his missionary journeys. As he was preaching about heaven and hell and the kingdom of God, he had to face very real and earthly challenges. He knew what it was like to be hungry, to be homeless, to be persecuted. And even though he had these very real problems right in front of him each day, he encourages us to not pay attention to them, but rather fix our eyes on the unseen.
Why is this so hard? I see and think about my earthly problems each day. I spend most of my day concerning myself with what is seen-my home, my car, my work, my finances, my yard, my clothes... And when do I think about the unseen? How often do I think about heaven and hell, angels and demons, souls and eternity? Each day I must do this. Today I will spend time on this.
Dear Jesus, help me think about the unseen. Amen.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Adam vs. Jesus
1 Cor. 15:9 "And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven"
Paul is contrasting Adam and Jesus. Adam was the first man, created from the dust. He is mortal and fallible. Jesus is the new Adam who always was and always will be. He is immortal and infallible. Jesus completes Adam and does what Adam cannot by redeeming all of mankind, which Adam represents.
There are two natures in me. On one hand I have Adam's genes. I am mortal and I sin. On the other hand, I have been recreated in the image of Christ and am daily becoming more like him. There is an ancient saying that there are two dogs fighting against each other in each of us-one good and one evil. Which one wins the fight? The one we feed more. Do I feed Adam or Jesus? Which one do I serve? Do I feed my humanity, or seek to feed my divinity? This is the tension and the battle of being human. Jesus, as the perfect man, the best Adam, won this battle. I need to look to him and follow his example.
Dear Jesus, thank you for redeeming me. Amen.
Paul is contrasting Adam and Jesus. Adam was the first man, created from the dust. He is mortal and fallible. Jesus is the new Adam who always was and always will be. He is immortal and infallible. Jesus completes Adam and does what Adam cannot by redeeming all of mankind, which Adam represents.
There are two natures in me. On one hand I have Adam's genes. I am mortal and I sin. On the other hand, I have been recreated in the image of Christ and am daily becoming more like him. There is an ancient saying that there are two dogs fighting against each other in each of us-one good and one evil. Which one wins the fight? The one we feed more. Do I feed Adam or Jesus? Which one do I serve? Do I feed my humanity, or seek to feed my divinity? This is the tension and the battle of being human. Jesus, as the perfect man, the best Adam, won this battle. I need to look to him and follow his example.
Dear Jesus, thank you for redeeming me. Amen.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Don't Forget the Manna
Deut. 8:11 "Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day."
God is reminding the Israelites of all he has done for them. He wants them to remember how he provided for them, took care of them, and guided them in the past. He does this so that when they enter the promised land and experience God's blessings, they do not begin to think that they have achieved this, or under their power they have accomplished great things. He instructs them to continue to rely on him and follow his commands.
In our culture it is so easy to think that we have earned and accomplished great things. We look at our money, homes, cars, and possessions and believe we earned them on our own and deserve them. As Phil mentioned last week, everything we have is God's. I need to be reminded today, just as the Israelites were thousands of years ago, that God is the source of all things. I rely on him, not on me.
Dear Jesus, help me rely on you and your word today. Help me remember all things come from you. Amen.
God is reminding the Israelites of all he has done for them. He wants them to remember how he provided for them, took care of them, and guided them in the past. He does this so that when they enter the promised land and experience God's blessings, they do not begin to think that they have achieved this, or under their power they have accomplished great things. He instructs them to continue to rely on him and follow his commands.
In our culture it is so easy to think that we have earned and accomplished great things. We look at our money, homes, cars, and possessions and believe we earned them on our own and deserve them. As Phil mentioned last week, everything we have is God's. I need to be reminded today, just as the Israelites were thousands of years ago, that God is the source of all things. I rely on him, not on me.
Dear Jesus, help me rely on you and your word today. Help me remember all things come from you. Amen.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
A Very Sad and Poor Martyr
1 Corinthians 13:3 "If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."
Paul is writing about love. He says that we may possess all sorts of gifts and abilities but if we do not possess love, they don't matter. Here he says that even if we give everything to the poor and die for our faith, but lack love, we have gained nothing.
I can't think of two greater deeds than giving all I have to the poor and then die for my faith! How do you top that!? Paul says those deeds without love mean nothing. Love is the greatest trait, quality, characteristic, and deed we can possess. I do a lot of good works. I have some pretty good talents. But how am I in the love department? I'd hate for my life to be a waste because I don't have love. I'd hate to be a very sad and poor martyr!
Dear Jesus, help me love first. Amen.
Paul is writing about love. He says that we may possess all sorts of gifts and abilities but if we do not possess love, they don't matter. Here he says that even if we give everything to the poor and die for our faith, but lack love, we have gained nothing.
I can't think of two greater deeds than giving all I have to the poor and then die for my faith! How do you top that!? Paul says those deeds without love mean nothing. Love is the greatest trait, quality, characteristic, and deed we can possess. I do a lot of good works. I have some pretty good talents. But how am I in the love department? I'd hate for my life to be a waste because I don't have love. I'd hate to be a very sad and poor martyr!
Dear Jesus, help me love first. Amen.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Preemptive Love
Romans 5:8 "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Paul is explaining how Christ's love is preemptive. He loved us before we knew him. He died for us before we even had the chance to say thanks. Even in our sins, while disobedient to God and running in the opposite direction, he gave his life for us. This shows how great his love for us is.
Paul explains that while we were sinners, Jesus died for us. How much greater his favor must now be if we follow him. Not that we can ever earn his love. He loves all people no matter what. But if he was willing to die for me while I was still a wretched sinner, what does he think of me now? What is his attitude about Jake today? He's gotta be pretty high on me!
Dear Jesus, thanks for loving me before I knew it. Amen.
Paul is explaining how Christ's love is preemptive. He loved us before we knew him. He died for us before we even had the chance to say thanks. Even in our sins, while disobedient to God and running in the opposite direction, he gave his life for us. This shows how great his love for us is.
Paul explains that while we were sinners, Jesus died for us. How much greater his favor must now be if we follow him. Not that we can ever earn his love. He loves all people no matter what. But if he was willing to die for me while I was still a wretched sinner, what does he think of me now? What is his attitude about Jake today? He's gotta be pretty high on me!
Dear Jesus, thanks for loving me before I knew it. Amen.
Monday, November 09, 2009
Because Period
Romans 8:35 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?"
Paul is talking about the overwhelming, unconditional, total love that Christ has for us. He explains that there is nothing in all of this world that could separate us from Christ's love. There is nothing we could ever do or not do or have done to us that can take his love away. He loves us always, completely, and totally.
James Brown spoke this weekend on this idea and did a fantastic job. He noted that our greeting cards often say, " I love you because____" and we fill in this blank with whatever attribute we love someone for. We do this not only in greeting cards, but in our everyday speech, phone calls, emails, etc. James pointed out there is no "because____" with Christ's love! There is no because, or rather the sentence ends there-He loves us because! Amazing and beautiful and revolutionary!
Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me just because. Amen.
Paul is talking about the overwhelming, unconditional, total love that Christ has for us. He explains that there is nothing in all of this world that could separate us from Christ's love. There is nothing we could ever do or not do or have done to us that can take his love away. He loves us always, completely, and totally.
James Brown spoke this weekend on this idea and did a fantastic job. He noted that our greeting cards often say, " I love you because____" and we fill in this blank with whatever attribute we love someone for. We do this not only in greeting cards, but in our everyday speech, phone calls, emails, etc. James pointed out there is no "because____" with Christ's love! There is no because, or rather the sentence ends there-He loves us because! Amazing and beautiful and revolutionary!
Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me just because. Amen.
Friday, November 06, 2009
McKinley Melts in 2012
Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."
The Sons of Korah write this song describing God as our strength, refuge, and fortress. In verse two they say even if the earth might give way and the mountains fall into the sea, God is still there and in control. In verse six, they say the earth may even melt! In any tragic global catastrophe, our God is a refuge and fortress.
There is a lot of buzz over the new movie 2012. According to the Mayan calendar (at least some folks interpretation of that calendar) the world will end in 2012. This film depicts the end of the earth and the trailers show the earth literally melting away and mountains falling into the sea. Well the Mayans may end being right, I doubt it, but even if they are, we have a God more powerful than anything. Despite any calamity or tragedy my hope and trust rests in the almighty God-maker of heaven and earth. He is my fortress, my refuge, my strong tower, and my ever-present help in trouble! I will trust in him today.
Dear Jesus, you are my strong tower. Help me find peace in your strength today. Amen.
The Sons of Korah write this song describing God as our strength, refuge, and fortress. In verse two they say even if the earth might give way and the mountains fall into the sea, God is still there and in control. In verse six, they say the earth may even melt! In any tragic global catastrophe, our God is a refuge and fortress.
There is a lot of buzz over the new movie 2012. According to the Mayan calendar (at least some folks interpretation of that calendar) the world will end in 2012. This film depicts the end of the earth and the trailers show the earth literally melting away and mountains falling into the sea. Well the Mayans may end being right, I doubt it, but even if they are, we have a God more powerful than anything. Despite any calamity or tragedy my hope and trust rests in the almighty God-maker of heaven and earth. He is my fortress, my refuge, my strong tower, and my ever-present help in trouble! I will trust in him today.
Dear Jesus, you are my strong tower. Help me find peace in your strength today. Amen.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Supernatural Groans
Romans 8:26 "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."
Paul says that the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses and intercedes on our behalf before the Father. The Spirit does this with "groans that words cannot express." Paul is conveying the idea that the Spirit is our advocate and works alongside us during our lives in good times and bad.
I find it interesting that the Spirit groans. Too often we think of God as some static, emotionless grandfather in the clouds, but the truth is God walks with us, journeys with us, celebrates with us, cries with us, and groans with us. When I am in pain, He is in pain. When I groan, He groans with me. We have a God who knows us, understands us, and has been where we are. When I don't have the words, the Spirit does. When my heart is too weak to groan, He will. I have to thank God for that today!
Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me and walking where I have walked. Thank you for the groans. Amen.
Paul says that the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses and intercedes on our behalf before the Father. The Spirit does this with "groans that words cannot express." Paul is conveying the idea that the Spirit is our advocate and works alongside us during our lives in good times and bad.
I find it interesting that the Spirit groans. Too often we think of God as some static, emotionless grandfather in the clouds, but the truth is God walks with us, journeys with us, celebrates with us, cries with us, and groans with us. When I am in pain, He is in pain. When I groan, He groans with me. We have a God who knows us, understands us, and has been where we are. When I don't have the words, the Spirit does. When my heart is too weak to groan, He will. I have to thank God for that today!
Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me and walking where I have walked. Thank you for the groans. Amen.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Hopeworthy
Romans 8:24 "Who hopes for what he already has?"
Paul is writing about hoping for future glory and the redemption of all creation. We don't have this entirely just yet which is why we hope for this. As followers of Christ we should anticipate and hope for the renewal and redemption and re-creation of all things.
What do I hope for? A raise? A nice weekend? A fun vacation? Do I continue to hope for things I already have-comfort, safety, wealth, etc? Honestly, my hopes are pretty temporal and selfish. Do I hope for the redemption of my neighbors? Of my neighborhood? Do I anticipate and look forward to the renewal of my family, my city and this world? These are things I need to hope for. These hopes should fill my prayers. Today I will hope for "hopeworthy" things.
Dear Jesus help me ache and hope and look forward to the things you do. Amen.
Paul is writing about hoping for future glory and the redemption of all creation. We don't have this entirely just yet which is why we hope for this. As followers of Christ we should anticipate and hope for the renewal and redemption and re-creation of all things.
What do I hope for? A raise? A nice weekend? A fun vacation? Do I continue to hope for things I already have-comfort, safety, wealth, etc? Honestly, my hopes are pretty temporal and selfish. Do I hope for the redemption of my neighbors? Of my neighborhood? Do I anticipate and look forward to the renewal of my family, my city and this world? These are things I need to hope for. These hopes should fill my prayers. Today I will hope for "hopeworthy" things.
Dear Jesus help me ache and hope and look forward to the things you do. Amen.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Common Ground with a Nazarite
Acts 21:26 "The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them."
These four men had just completed a Nazarite vow. A Nazarite vowed to abstain from wine, not cut his hair, and stay away from dead things for a period of months and oftentimes years. Kind of an odd vow, but it in it's cultural context it signified an isolation from society and allowed the Nazarite time to focus and rely on God. Paul joins these men in the culmination of their vow and pays their offering-along with a good shave, the final act to fulfill their vow. Paul oftentimes spoke of freedom from the law and said that Jewish customs and traditions were not necessary under the new covenant. Interestingly, here Paul seems to affirm and even assist with an ancient Jewish custom. Paul once said, "to the Jew I became like a Jew" and in Acts 21 he demonstrates this. Paul would do what he had to do in order to advance the gospel and keep the young and fragile church together.
I can learn from this. How can I become who I need to become in order to advance the kingdom? I need to lay my pride down and look for ways to engage with culture and use what I can for the cause of the kingdom.
Dear Jesus, help me find common ground with others today for your sake. Amen.
These four men had just completed a Nazarite vow. A Nazarite vowed to abstain from wine, not cut his hair, and stay away from dead things for a period of months and oftentimes years. Kind of an odd vow, but it in it's cultural context it signified an isolation from society and allowed the Nazarite time to focus and rely on God. Paul joins these men in the culmination of their vow and pays their offering-along with a good shave, the final act to fulfill their vow. Paul oftentimes spoke of freedom from the law and said that Jewish customs and traditions were not necessary under the new covenant. Interestingly, here Paul seems to affirm and even assist with an ancient Jewish custom. Paul once said, "to the Jew I became like a Jew" and in Acts 21 he demonstrates this. Paul would do what he had to do in order to advance the gospel and keep the young and fragile church together.
I can learn from this. How can I become who I need to become in order to advance the kingdom? I need to lay my pride down and look for ways to engage with culture and use what I can for the cause of the kingdom.
Dear Jesus, help me find common ground with others today for your sake. Amen.
Monday, November 02, 2009
Life and Peace Despite a Broken Kia Spectra
Romans 8:6 "but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace..."
Paul is contrasting a mind controlled by sin and a mind controlled by the spirit. He says a mind controlled by sin is hostile to God and ultimately leads to death. And a mind controlled by the spirit is "life and peace." As followers of Jesus, our minds ought to be, and in fact are controlled by the spirit.
Life and peace are two words I needed to read today. An expensive and unexpected car repair has me feeling a bit blue today. It's easy to let the temporary concerns of this world weigh our minds down with worry and stress. But my mind is to be one controlled by the spirit and filled with life and peace. Even when crap happens I can still have peace and have life. I need to always look for the good and find beauty, joy, peace, and life in all circumstances. Today I need to find peace and life in the brokenness of my Kia Spectra.
Dear Jesus, help me to remember your blessings and just get over it! Amen.
Paul is contrasting a mind controlled by sin and a mind controlled by the spirit. He says a mind controlled by sin is hostile to God and ultimately leads to death. And a mind controlled by the spirit is "life and peace." As followers of Jesus, our minds ought to be, and in fact are controlled by the spirit.
Life and peace are two words I needed to read today. An expensive and unexpected car repair has me feeling a bit blue today. It's easy to let the temporary concerns of this world weigh our minds down with worry and stress. But my mind is to be one controlled by the spirit and filled with life and peace. Even when crap happens I can still have peace and have life. I need to always look for the good and find beauty, joy, peace, and life in all circumstances. Today I need to find peace and life in the brokenness of my Kia Spectra.
Dear Jesus, help me to remember your blessings and just get over it! Amen.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)