Bitterness

Psalm 73:21 "Then I realized how bitter I had become, how pained I had been by all I had seen."

The psalmist had been crying out about how the wicked always seem to prosper. He mourned how the rich live in sin and the wicked oftentimes seem to be blessed. But then he realizes that all of his judgement and complaining have left him bitter.

Too often, when our eyes are focused on someone else's life, we grow bitter. We become bitter over what "they" have or what "they" do. We should instead be content with what we have been blessed with. God does want us to right the wrongs in our world and fight for justice and peace. It's OK to have some righteous indignation or "holy discontent" at times but it should not lead to a life of bitterness. In good times and bad, we should find joy and peace with our Savior.

Dear Jesus, help me hate what is wrong, but please save me from bitterness. Amen.

All Creation

Romans 8:21 "All creation anticipates the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay."

When Adam and Eve ate the apple, all of creation was cursed. And now all of creation is eagerly awaiting Christ's return and the final victory on that day when the curse will be once and for all lifted.

I often think about Christ's redemptive work in my own personal life. I so often just think about me and what Jesus did for me. This passage paints a more complete picture including all of creation in Christ's redemptive work on the cross. Jesus came to save and rescue it all. This new kingdom has come and will be complete someday soon with a new heaven, a new earth, and a new Jake-probably in that order?

Dear Jesus, thank you for the cross and what it means for the whole world. Amen.

Planet Earth

Psalm 104:24 "O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures."

Psalm 104 praises God for his creation. All of creation is attributed to the masterful work of the great artist himself-God. Everything we see and experience here in this earth and the heavens as well, come from and are dependant upon God.

As a gift, my wife bought me "Planet Earth" the nature documentary by the BBC. It is a wonderful, nearly hypnotic look at our world. Planet Earth explores some of the more mysterious and rarely seen domains of our planet. My favorite episodes include the birds of paradise, deserts and caves. Our world is wonderfully diverse and beautiful. God made all of it. This earth is his creation. If nothing else, we should praise him for it. But of course we have so much more to praise him for; calvary, salvation, eternal life, forgiveness, hope...

Dear Jesus, thank you for our planet earth. You are a wondeful creator! Amen.

Please Don't Ask

Luke 8:25 "Then he asked them, 'Where is your faith?'"

The disciples are in a boat on the Sea of Galilea and a storm develops. The disciples get scared and wake Jesus. He calms the storm and then asks them "Where is your faith?"

I hope Jesus never has to ask me this question. Maybe before he has to ask me, I should get in the habit of asking this of myself every day-"Jake where is your faith?" Sometimes I don't know. Honestly, many days my faith is in myself, my job, and my ability to take care of myself. That really is stupid though because storms do come and I can't control them. So, today I need to make sure my faith is not in me or in my boat, but instead entirely in Jesus.

Dear Jesus, help me keep my faith in you each day so you don't have to ask this question. Amen.

Faith and Doubt

Mark 9:24 " The father instantly replied, 'I do believe, but help me not to doubt!'"

A father has brought his demon possesed son to Jesus' disicples and they were unable to heal him. Jesus arrives and tells the father that if he believes, all things are possible. The father says he does believe but he needs help with doubt.

This had to be difficult for this father. On one hand he see Jesus. Jesus was the son of God. He was walking on water and casting demons out all over the place. When he looked at Jesus he had faith. But then when he turned his head and saw his son, there was doubt. Here was his son who had been ill for so long. I think this is similar to our battle. One one hand we look to Jesus and see heavenly things and have faith. But then we are constantly reminded of our humanity and fallen world and we can't help but doubt. This is the tension of being human. I must continually look to Jesus for my faith.

Dear Jesus, help me always look to you. Amen.

Plot Twist

Mark 16: 3 "On the way they were discussing who would roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb."

Mary Magdalene, Salome, and Mary the mother of James were on their way to Jesus' tomb. They were going there to put burial spices on his body. As they were walking, they discuss who will roll the stone away.

I can imagine this conversation. They had lost their messiah, their leader and now are talking about such depressing things as burial spices and who will roll the stone away. I'm sure they were still in shock. But of course, no one had to roll the stone away because it had already been done! Oftentimes in our despair, Jesus has a twist for us. In the pain, there is always hope. When we are discussing who has to roll the stone away, Jesus has other plans.

Dear Jesus, thank you for Easter and plot twists. Amen.