Joash and the Grassy Knoll

2 Kings 12:20 "Joash's officers plotted against him and assassinated him at Beth-milio on the road to Silla."

Joash has been a fairly decent king for awhile, yet his life comes to an end when two of his officers assassinate him. 

Verse 21 records that the two assassins were trusted advisers to Joash.  Sometimes you just never know I guess. I'm not a cynical man but sometimes you just can't trust people.  I can trust God though.  At the end of the day, he is only the "person" I can truly trust.  My hope and trust should not be in any other man, but in Christ alone.  Men will always let me down, but Jesus never will.

Dear Jesus, help me trust in you today.  Amen.

Trickeration

2 Kings 10:27 "They smashed the sacred pillar and wrecked the temple of Baal, converting it into a public toilet, as it remains to this day."

Jehu was charged by God to destroy the family of evil King Ahab and everything associated with Baal worship.  He invites all the worshippers of Baal to Baal's temple and while inside, he orders all of his soldiers to kill the worshippers.  Oh the "trickeration!"  Jehu then has the sacred pillar taken from the temple and converts it into a toilet!  A public toilet no less!  Nasty!  Does God also have a twisted sense of humor!?

As with so many other kings, Jehu doesn't completely turn from his sins and ends up disappointing God.  But, for a moment, he destroys the evil in the kingdom.  Fighting evil and sin is a constant effort.  I must daily focus on Christ and squash the sin in my life.  It's not a one time event.  Each day, I must make the commitment to identify sin in my life and then eradicate it.  What sin do I need to turn from today and ask God to forgive?

Dear Jesus, thank you for your forgiveness.  Help me to pursue holiness today.  Amen.

In 24 Hours

2 Kings 7:18 "The man of God had said to the king, 'By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, five quarts of choice flour will cost one piece of silver, and ten quarts of barley grain will cost one piece of silver.'"

In Israel there has been a long famine.  The king is desperate and angry, blaming God and his servant Elisha for the unending drought.  The king goes to Elisha with the intent to kill him.  Then Elisha predicts that in 24 hours the famine will be over. And sure enough in 24 hours, the drought was over.

God always provides.  He provides what we need when we need it.  I too often forget that and depend upon myself to get out of tough situations.  I think I am in control and it's up to me.  I then worry when things are beyond my control.  I need to remain calm and understand that God will provide.  He'll take care of me and I need to just trust him in all circumstances.  Today I need to trust God with my house.  It will sell when it's the right time.  Maybe not in 24 hours, but at the right time!

Dear Jesus, help me trust in you and in your timing.  And please sell my house in 2012!  Amen.

Holy, holy, holy

Revelation 4:8 “Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty-the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.’”

John paints this incredible picture of heaven and of all the angels worshipping Jesus day after day, and night after night. It’s like a scene only Michael Bay could create! But here it is, recorded in this wonderful letter written by John on the island of Patmos nearly two thousand years ago. It’s a picture of the end times and all of creation is worshipping Jesus proclaiming him to be holy, holy, holy. What a scene!

I learned in Bible school that the Bible often repeats itself and sometimes certain words or phrases are written three times in succession. This is done for emphasis and is the author’s way of saying, “hey this is really important- pay attention!” John records that the angels praise Jesus three times calling out to him, “holy, holy, holy.” I guess this means Jesus is holy! That’s the understatement of the century! I know at this time of year it’s easy to think of cute little baby Jesus in his manger with all the adorable animals, but our Jesus is really this mighty king who is holy, holy, holy. Revelation paints a picture of the future which gets really, really bad, but then gets really, really good forever. And at the center of this amazing ending is Jesus Christ who is holy, holy, holy. The angels understand this, but do I? Do I worship the holy, holy, holy, Lord and Savior of the universe? Today, I need to. Today I need to remember to worship him, just as the angels do in heaven.

Dear Jesus, thank you for being holy, holy, holy. I praise you for being holy, holy, holy. Amen.

Naaman and Rimmon

2 Kings 5:19 "'Go in peace', Elisha said, so Naaman started home again."

Naaman, the commander of the Aramean army has come to Elisha to be healed of his leprosy.  Upon being healed by Elisha's instructions to go and wash in the Jordan River seven times, Naaman confesses that there is but one true God. After this realization, he admits to Elisha that when he returns home, he still will have to enter the temple of Rimmon with the king and bow before Rimmon.  Elisha, the prophet of this one true God, simply tells him, "Go in peace."

Do we blur the lines sometimes between the supernatural and the superstitious?  Shouldn't Elisha have instructed Naaman to stay far away from Rimmon, never enter the temple again, burn all of Rimmon's books and boycott the Rimmon movie at the theater? Maybe, but maybe not.  There is this crazy tension between separating ourselves from what is evil and sinful, but also relying on faith and knowing that in Christ, Satan has no power over us.  I know I need to do my best to keep myself from anything that causes me to stumble, but also understand the grace and freedom we have in Christ is greater than any temple. 

Dear Jesus, help me follow you and trust you wherever I am.  Amen.

All Scripture

2 Timothy 3:16, 17 “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”

The Apostle Paul is passing on some instructions to his protégé Timothy in his second recorded letter to him. Paul warns Timothy that in the last days there will be difficult times and there will be many who fall away from Christ and pursue wickedness. He warns of evil teachers and people who act religious but really reject Christ. In the midst of this warning, Paul encourages Timothy to stay true to his teaching and use God’s word as a guide. Scripture, it appears, is the guide that will help Timothy distance himself from false teachers and will help him stay on track.

All of scripture is inspired by God himself. They are his words. The Bible is not just an old book with some wise sayings that may be helpful sometime. The Bible is God’s story and his very thoughts and ideas recorded on paper for me to learn from. Paul may have written the letter of 2 Timothy to Timothy in the first century, but they are really God’s words for me today. Whether I am reading 2 Timothy or 2 Samuel, I need to be reminded the words I am reading are God’s words. And he tells me his words are there to help equip me and prepare me for every good work. Today, how am I using God’s words to motivate and inspire me to do his good work? Am I reading carefully? Am I reading closely? Am I putting his story and his words into action in my life?

Dear Jesus, thank you for speaking to me through your word. Help me rely on it and use it for every good work today. Amen.

New Life

2 Cor. 5:17 “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

Paul is explaining to the Corinthians how life with Jesus is markedly different than life without Jesus. Prior in verse fourteen, Paul contends that as a believer, it is now Christ’ love that controls us and that we have “died to our old life.” Those are some strong descriptions of our life as followers of Jesus! Our old life is a distant, dead memory. Everything is new. Everything is different for a believer. In fact in verse twenty, Paul goes so far as to say that we are not merely new persons, but that we are indeed his ambassadors to this world! We go from being far from Christ, to being reconciled to Christ, to working for Christ-and it’s all because of Christ!

Life with Jesus is different. It should look different, sound different, and feel different. There should be something very different about how I live compared with how I used to live. Jesus doesn’t just make some minor adjustments to our lives, he overhauls them completely! So, can people see the difference in my life? Can the people I know see Jesus in my life? Am I truly different? It’s one thing to say I believe in Jesus, and go to church, and say all the right things. But am I truly different? Have I allowed Jesus to change my entire life? Have I died to my old self and truly become a new person?

Dear Jesus, thank you for my new life! Help me to daily become more and more like you. Amen.

Elisha and Jesus

2 Kings 4:44 "And when they gave it to the people, there was plenty for all and some left over, just as the Lord had promised."

During a famine, a man named Baal-shalishah brought Elisha a sack of grain and twenty loaves of bread.  Elisha instructs Baal to instead feed it to the crowd.  Baal is doubtful since there are a hundred people present.  However, once the food was passed around, Baal sees it had been enough (multiplied somehow!) and had fed the entire crowd, plus there was some leftover.

There are many scholars who believe we can see glimpses of Jesus all throughout scripture.  Certainly here, we see a miracle by Elisha that clearly foreshadows a similar miracle by Jesus.  So what does it mean for me today?  Maybe nothing, but I can see that Jesus is the point.  All of creation, history, and scripture point to Jesus.  In a week where we give thanks and enjoy a lot of food, I will be thankful for both Elisha and Jesus' miracles of bountiful food!  And in the end, whether it's twenty loaves or a few fish, it's all about Jesus. 

Dear Jesus, thank you for all I have and mostly for you!  Amen.

What Are You Doing Here?

1 Kings 19:13 "...and a voice said, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?'"

Elijah is the only prophet of God left and has confronted 450 prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel in an epic contest.  After defeating them, he still finds himself on the run from Ahab and Jezebel.  God sends him to Mt. Sinai and there asks him twice "what are you doing here?"

What are you doing here?  Good question.  God asks Elijah this question not once, but twice.  And it's a question we need to continually ask ourselves.  Sometimes I am very sure of what I am doing.  Other times, not so much.  And just as God spoke to Elijah in a "gentle whisper" on the mountain that day, I pray God speaks to me this weekend at Man Camp. 

Dear Jesus, help me better understand more and more each day exactly what I am doing here.  Amen.

Chef Raven

1 Kings 17:6 "The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook."

The prophet Elijah has just told King Ahab some not so pleasant news.  He tells Ahab that due to his sins, the nation was going to go through a severe drought. So to keep Elijah alive, God sends him away to hide from Ahab.  While hiding, the Lord sends ravens to feed him. 

God always provides.  He may challenge us to do some very difficult things, but he always provides.  Now eating food brought to me by birds is not my idea of a good time, but it sustained Elijah.  Who am I to complain when God asks me to do something and I don't want to because I'll be inconvenienced?  Elijah had to hide by a brook and be fed by ravens for crying out loud!  Oh and Ahab's cronies were probably out trying to find him and kill him at the same time.  Today I need to buck up, follow where God is leading, and trust the birds will find a way.

Dear Jesus, thanks for the ravens.  Amen.

Earthquake

Matthew 27:54 “The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, ‘This man truly was the Son of God!’”

Jesus has just been crucified at a place called Golgotha. At the very moment of his death, there was a violent earthquake. This earthquake shook the hill at Golgotha and also opened some nearby graves! The bodies of these dead people rose up and floated into the streets of nearby Jerusalem spooking the residents. And when dead people are wandering the streets of your city-well who ya gonna call!? These events scared the Roman soldiers to such a degree that they proclaimed that this guy who had been hanging on that cross all afternoon was “truly the Son of God!”

These soldiers had felt the earthquake. They saw the rocks split and tumble into the Kidron Valley below. They saw this happen with their own eyes. The earth shook. And this is how they knew something was different about this Jesus character. How has Jesus shaken me? How have I experienced his power and love? I too have had an encounter with Jesus. He has touched my life in a profound way. It wasn’t through an earthquake but he has shaken my life nonetheless. My experience and my response should be no different than that of these soldiers. Am I willing to proclaim to others around me today that he is indeed the Son of God? Today I need to tell others about how Jesus has shaken my life.

Dear Jesus, thank you for showing up in my life in profound ways. Help me share you and your message with others this week. Amen.

King Nothing

1 Kings 14:9 "You have done more evil than all who lived before you.  You have made other gods for yourself and have made me furious with your gold calves..."

King Solomon is gone and now the nation is divided into two.  Rehoboam and Jeroboam each are ruling half the nation and both are very wicked.  They each have turned from the Lord and have begun worshipping false gods.

The Old Testament sure seems messed up sometimes!  Why does God continue to choose these kings who most of whom eventually all fail and begin worshipping false gods?  Does God not see this coming?  I guess if there ever was a case in scripture for free will it could be this endless parade of bad kings.  God continually allows these kings to come to power, make poor choices, and ruin the nation!  Saul is bad, David screws up, Solomon messes up, then Rehoboam and Jeroboam, and it gets worse from there!  God does allow me to make choices.  I can choose him or some Asherah pole.  I need to choose him every day.

Dear Jesus, help me make the choice each day to follow you. Amen.

Wayward Hearts

Jeremiah 3:22 “My wayward children,” says the Lord, “come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.”

Israel and Judah have both abandoned the Lord and have worshipped false gods such as Baal. God has sent Jeremiah, now known as the “weeping prophet” to warn them of their sins and the destruction awaiting them if they do not repent and turn back to the Lord. Jeremiah speaks God’s words to the people, and they are harsh! God calls his people prostitutes and adulterers. The Lord has felt betrayed by his people and his anger shows in the opening chapters of Jeremiah. Yet, here in chapter three, we see the Lord, begging and pleading for his people to come back to him. He tells them that even now, it’s not too late. They can still turn from their sins and return to him and he will heal their broken hearts.

These words were written to the people of Israel and Judah 2500 years ago. They contained a specific warning and message for them at that time. Yet the message still rings true for us today. These words were not specifically written to us, but rather for us. If we are willing to turn from our sins and our false gods, God is faithful and will take us back and heal our wayward hearts. It’s never too late with Jesus. Our sins are never too big for Jesus. Our betrayal is never too painful or too much for Jesus. Let me say again, it’s never too late, they’re never too big, and it’s never too much for Jesus! Today I need to face my betrayal and my sin and turn my heart back towards my Jesus. He is faithful and will forgive me and heal my wayward heart!

Dear Jesus, thank you for never giving up on me. Please heal my wayward heart today. Amen.

Twice!

1 Kings 11:9 "The Lord was very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice."

Solomon had become king and become very wise and powerful.  Early on, God appeared to him twice.  Once to grant him his wisdom, and the second to remind him to follow God only.  By chapter 11, Solomon has turned away from God and begun worshipping other gods, going so far as to build shrines for them. 

I think God was offended because he had personally appeared twice to Solomon and yet Solomon still disobeyed.  How crazy is that!?  The one true God of the universe speaks to Solomon and he still screws up.  Am I in danger of doing the same?  Has God appeared to me?  Yes, he came in the person of Jesus Christ with whom I've spoken with!  He came into my life and has changed everything.  I pray I do not repeat Solomon's mistakes.

Dear Jesus, thank you for being so real to me.  Help me follow you more closely today.  Amen.

Temple = Jesus

1 Kings 8:27 "But will God really live on earth? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!"

Solomon has finished building the temple in Jerusalem.  Upon it's completion, he prays a very long prayer to dedicate the building to God. 

Surely this temple could not contain God!  So why build it?  What was it's real purpose? I heard this week the temple was a foreshadowing of Jesus.  The temple was all about Jesus.  Just as the temple was built so God could dwell among his people,  Jesus want to dwell in our hearts.  That's one example.  Solomon and the people were pretty stoked to have God right there among them.  I should be even more stoked that the God of the universe is always with me, living in and through me! 

Dear Jesus, help me remember that you dwell in my heart.  Amen.

Less Than 1%

1 Kings 3:9 "Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong.  For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours."

Solomon is now king and is obediently following God. God tells Solomon he may have anything he wishes so Solomon asks the Lord for wisdom. 

I love how humble Solomon is.  He has just been made king and can say and do whatever he wants.  He could have just as easily taken advantage of his position and gone his own way.  Instead he humbles himself, and asks God to give him wisdom not for his own glory but in order to govern the people better.  Today I need to be humble and ask God to give me wisdom and understanding.  I don't have it all figured out.  I probably have less than 1% of anything figured out!  I need God's guidance today.

Dear Jesus, please give me your wisdom and understanding today.  Amen.

Watch Out Spiders

1 Kings 2:2 "I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man."

King David is about to die and he is passing on some advice and final words to Solomon his son, who is soon to be king.

Whenever the Bible makes me chuckle I take note of it.  David's advice to Solomon to "be a man" did that today.  Surely David has much more wisdom to pass on and plenty of important holy things that do come later in this chapter, but sometimes it just boils down to being a man.  A man honors his word and does what he says he'll do.  A man loves his family and his wife and does everything to protect and serve them.  A man works hard, respects others, and fears God. And most importantly, a man kills spiders.  Unfortunately there are too many "non-man" men running around today.  Today I need to be a man.  Watch out spiders!

Dear Jesus, help me be a man.  Help me be a man after your heart.  Amen.

Esther

Esther 4:14 “If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”

Esther, although a Jew, has been crowned queen in King Xerxes’ empire. A man named Haman has convinced King Xerxes that all the Jews must die. Mordecai, Esther’s uncle sends her this message and tells her that maybe she has been put in this position, as the queen, to do something about this impending genocide. Just maybe, she was placed in this position by God, to rescue the Jews? Could this be her destiny? Mordecai begs her to not miss her calling.

Too often I am concerned with what’s next. I worry about the next decision in my life, the next hurdle to jump, and the next mountain to climb. I’m always looking for what’s around the corner or down the road. But, God has placed me at this time, in this circumstance, with these people, for a specific reason. I can’t be so focused on tomorrow that I lose sight of today. What has God called me to today? What has God called me to do today in my neighborhood, at my work, in my family, right now, on Tuesday November 1, 2011? That should be my number one concern. Today, I will focus on today. Who knows if perhaps I was made for just such a time as this!?

Dear Jesus, remind me to look around me and see my calling today. Help me to not miss my opportunity. Amen.

Poor Uriah

2 Samuel 23:39 "Uriah the Hittite."

David is nearing the end of his life and reign as king.  In chapter twenty-three, the writer lists David's mightiest warriors.  First he lists the three best warriors who were closest to David and most trusted by him.  Then the writer lists another group of thirty warriors.  At the very end of this list in verse 39 is Uriah the Hitttite.  Uriah the husband of Bathsheba whom David had murdered.  He is listed as one of David's best, and most trusted warriors! David had this dude killed and yet he counts him as one of his top 33?!  David had a bad memory or a moment of insanity.  How can you sleep with another man's wife, then have him killed, and then at the end of your life count him as one of your friends? 

What can I learn from this?  How can I apply this?  Don't stab people in the back I guess.  Don't be fake, or false.  Have true and honest motives.  Remember that character and integrity matter most.  That's what I'll try to learn from David's messed up life. 

Dear Jesus, help me be above reproach in all things.  Amen.

Tough Love

2 Samuel 19:7 "Now go out there and congratulate your troops, for I swear by the Lord that if you don't go out, not a single one of them will remain here tonight."

David's army under Joab's leadership has just granted him a big victory.  It was a victory that came with a price as David's rebellious son Absalom was killed.  David mourns for his son so Joab confronts him and defines reality for the king.

Sometimes we need advice and counsel from others.  Sometimes we need to hear some tough love.  Joab gives David some tough love.  The king is in mourning for his son Absalom, but Joab explains that the greater good was accomplished with his death.  That's a tough story to sell to the king, but in Joab's mind it had to be told.  Who in my life is telling me the honest truth?  Have I surrounded myself with the kinds of people who will speak truth to me no matter how hard it might hurt?  I need those voices in my life now more than ever.

Dear Jesus, help me lean on and surround myself with "tough love" kind of friends.  Amen.

Jehoiada-Style

2 Kings 11:18 “And all the people of the land went over to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They demolished the altars and smashed the idols to pieces, and they killed Matan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.”

After a tragic sequence of events, Jehoiada the priest crowns a seven year old boy named Joash as king. In an effort to help the youngster off to a good start, clean up the nation and take it in a more godly direction, Jehoiada orders the destruction of the temple of Baal. He destroys Baal’s temple and everything and everyone associated with Baal worship. It was a good day’s work.

Sometimes, we have to draw a line in the sand and eliminate certain things which tempt us and cause us to sin. Good intentions are never enough. We have to take action. Jehoiada did just that and smashed Baal’s altars. What altars do I need to smash? What temples do I need to destroy? How can I eliminate those things which keep me away from God? Today I need to evaluate my life and decide what honors God and what doesn’t. What doesn’t honor God needs to be smashed, broken, and destroyed Jehoiada-style!

Dear Jesus, help me be bold and courageous today. Help me do what it takes to eliminate the temptations in my life. Amen.

Red Light, Green Light

Judges 2: 16-17 “Then the Lord raised up judges to rescue the Israelites from their attackers. Yet Israel did not listen to the judges but prostituted themselves by worshiping other gods. How quickly they turned away from the path of their ancestors, who had walked in obedience to the Lord’s commands.”

Upon entering the promised land, God raises up judges to help guide and direct the people. Yet time and time again, the people ignore the judges and follow other gods. This becomes a cycle for the Israelites. Over and over again throughout their history, they follow God for a time and listen to his judges, kings, and prophets, yet eventually fall away and begin to follow other gods, beliefs, and customs.

It’s easy to look at the ancient Israelites and be relieved that I don’t do that. Or do I? Yeah maybe I haven’t kneeled and worshipped a statue lately, but how often do I turn away from God? How often do I choose to ignore him and then when life gets tough, or Sunday rolls around, I am reminded of him and promptly follow him? It’s like the children’s game “red light, green light.” We follow for a short time, then turn the other way, then come back to him, then turn the other way, and on and on it goes... The interesting thing here is, God is always there waiting for us. After every rebellion and every desertion, God is waiting with open arms calling us back to him!

Dear Jesus, thank you for your patience, forgiveness and for always taking me back. Amen.

A Poor Counselor

2 Samuel 16:23 "Ahithophel gave such good advice in those days that both Absalam and David thought it came straight from God."

Ahithopel was a counselor to Absalom during Absalom's revolt again David.  He was apparently well known for his wise counsel-everyone thought he got his "stuff" straight from God!  In verse 21 he advises Absalom to have sex with all of his father David's wives.  I don't know that "wise" is the word I'd use to describe that advice!  Either way, once he realizes his services are no longer needed, he returns to his hometown and hangs himself.

So everyone thought this dude was wise.  Hmmm.  We are so easily persuaded by well spoken men.  We are so easily decieved sometimes by worldy wisdom.  I need to find my wisdom and insight from God through his word.  I should rely less on man's words and more on God's words.  His words can be trusted.

Dear Jesus, help me listen to your voice and your counsel today.  Amen.

A Test on Mt. Moriah

Genesis 22:8 “’God will provide a lamb, my son.’ Abraham answered. And they both went on together.”

God has asked Abraham to take his son, his one and only son Isaac, to the top of Mt. Moriah and sacrifice him. Several chapters earlier, God promised Abraham that he would bless him and make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. But here in chapter twenty-two, God asks Abraham to kill his only star. On their trek up the mountainside, Isaac asks Abraham where the sacrificial lamb is. Abraham simply answers that God will provide the lamb.

This story from Genesis 22 is meant to be a test for Abraham. God wanted to test his faith. And before Abraham and Isaac even make it to the top of the mountain, Abraham seemingly passes the test. Abraham is confident that God will provide. How many mountain climbs have I been on and have not been sure that God will provide? How often do I doubt that God will come through in the end? I can learn a lesson from Abraham. I need to have faith in God and trust him in all circumstances. When I’m hiking up the mountain and the future seems uncertain, I need to trust that he will indeed provide the lamb.

Dear Jesus, help me trust in you and your promises today. Amen.

The Gospel From Tekoa

2 Samuel 14:14 "All of us must die eventually.  Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him."

David's son Absalom has vengefully killed his brother Amnon.  After the murder, Absalom flees the country and Joab wants to convince David to bring him back.  Joab finds a wise woman from Tekoa and has her go to David to trick/convince David to bring his son Absalom back.  It's a soap opera plot, but in the midst of the conversation with David, the woman from Tekoa says this. 

It's the gospel right in 2 Samuel! Throughout our short life, as we become separated from God, he brings us back to him.  She actually says, he "devises ways to bring us back."  And the greatest idea of all was sending his son Jesus to take our place and reconcile all things to God through him!  Yes life is short.  That fact is haunting.  We are like "water spilled out on the ground" but God has devised the master plan called Jesus to save us and bring us back.  That my friends is the story! That is the hope!

Dear Jesus, thank you for bringing me back.  Help me hold tightly to that truth today!  Amen.

Up All Night

2 Samuel 12:16 "David begged God to spare the child.  He went without food and lay all night on the bare ground."

David had slept with Bathsheba, gotten her pregnant, and murdered her husband Uriah.  In response to this, God punishes David and kills he and Bathsheba's son.  David's sin has affected Bathsheba and her son.  It did not just affect him.  This is one of the dangerous aspects of sin.  It reaches out and touches others. 

This verse describing David being troubled all night hit me.  I can identify with a sick child.  You would do anything to save them from the pain.  But sometimes there's nothing you can do.  And here David could do nothing.  He had already done too much.  How does my sin affect those closest to me?  Do my sins affect my children?  They do. 

Dear Jesus, keep me from sin for my sake, but more so for my children's sake.  Amen.

Say Mephibosheth Five Times Fast

2 Samuel 9:7 "I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father Jonathan."

Chapter eight describes many of King David's military conquests.  He beat up, wiped out, and killed a lot of dudes!  Then in chapter nine, he decides to do something a bit more gracious and kind and asks if any of Saul's relatives are still living.  He finds the crippled grandson of Saul named Mephibosheth, and decides to bless him and have him eat with him at the king's table. 

Within two chapters we see David go from slaughtering tens of thousands of people (I particularly am fascinated with 8:2!) to caring for and being kind to the cripple Mephibosheth. For now I'll focus on chapter nine.  David goes out of his way to show kindness to an old friend's (Jonathan) son.  When was the last time I specifically went out of my way to be kind?  Sure I'll be nice to people I happen to run into, but how often am I this intentional?  Today I need to spend the extra time and effort and show kindness to someone. 

Dear Jesus, help me be like David and not be like David (you know what I mean).  Help me be kind today.  Amen.

God Did It

2 Samuel 5:20 "'The Lord did it!" David exclaimed."

David has recently become king over all of Israel and the Philistines want to take him out.  David asks the Lord if he should go fight them and God tells him to go ahead and they will be handed over to him. So the Philistines advance and at a place called Baal-perazim David defeats them.  Instead of taking credit and gloating David says the "Lord did it."

Youth ministry at Crossroad is rocking!  We 've seen nearly 400 kids show up each week including 238 alone at HangTime last Wednesday!  I must remember that God has done this.  I couldn't do it.  It's not about me.  Just like God won the battle for David, God is drawing kids to himself here at Crossroads.  I pray I do not forget this.

Dear Jesus, help me remember you did it.  Amen.

Peace

2 Samuel 2:26 "Must we always solve our differences with swords? Don't you realize the only thing we will gain is bitterness toward each other?"

King Saul has died and in the aftermath much violence and warfare occurs between the various tribes.  At one point Abner gets a clue and realizes that revenge and violence never accomplish anything. In fact, they only lead to more revenge and violence.

Violence usually doesn't get us anywhere.  Yet it was so prevalent in the Old Testament!  Christ wants us to be peacemakers and put down our swords.  I can help do this.  I can be a peaceable person and treat others with respect and kindness.  I can instill this in the lives of my kids. 

Dear Jesus, help me be a peacemaker today.  Amen.

Nothing Compares

Philippians 3:8 "Yes, everything else is worthless compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord."

Philippians chapter three is amazing!  In verse eight, Paul considers everything he's earned and achieved as worthless compared with the relationship he has with Christ.  And Paul had earned and achieved a lot!  Yet none of it, not one line on his resume comes close to the value of knowing Jesus.

I've read this verse dozens of times. I've memorized it.  Yet today it hit me like a ton of bricks-scripture has a way of doing that.  Everything I've accomplished and attained really doesn't matter one iota unless I know Jesus.  That's all that matters.  This helps put things in perspective.  Thanks Paul.  Today I need to focus on what matters most and it's not my resume or my bank account, it's Jesus.

Dear Jesus, thank you for your word.  Become greater in my life.  Amen.

Weak in September

1 Samuel 30:6 "But David found strength in the Lord his God."

David and his army have just returned home and discovered their families have been taken.  His men are crushed and some of them want David's head.  In the midst of this mega tragedy, David "found strength in the Lord." 

It's often in our weakest and saddest moments when we turn to God.  When we can't do anything ourselves, when we can't fix it, when we're powerless, it's then we find our strength in God.  It's the first week of school with kickoff around the corner, and I'm tired already!  I feel somewhat overwhelmed with so much to do.  I know I can't do it all so I need to find my strength and energy in God today.

Dear Jesus, in my weakness and exhaustion, help me find my strength in you. Amen.

A Witch and a Ghost in a Place Called Endor

1 Samuel 28: 15 "'Why have you disturbed me by calling me back?' Samuel asked Saul."

Saul is worried about David, the Philistines, and his kingdom's future-at least his reign of that kingdom.  In his desperation, he consults a witch in Endor and asks her to call up Samuel's spirit.  Samuel's ghost shows up and tells Saul it's game over!

What a great story!  I'll have to read this one again at Halloween!  In desperation we do stupid things.  How often have I felt like I was at the end of my rope and acted in haste and did something I knew I'd regret?  I won't answer that.  With Christ in our lives, we should never feel desperate or hopeless or worried.  We have Jesus, we don't need to talk to ghosts! 

Dear Jesus, help me rely on you and not my horoscope.  Not that I ever read horoscopes...Amen.

Faithful in Grand Marais

August 1

1 Sam. 26:23 "The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness."

David has for the second time, had the opportunity to kill Saul and has passed on it.  David shows great self control, faith in God, and right acting.

God rewards us for acting rightly and being faithful.  Most of the time, our faithfulness is displayed in the small things-during every day life.  Sure, every now and then maybe we're tempted to kill the king and we pass!  But most of the time, we are called to be faithful in our small every day choices.  How can I be faithful in the small things this week while camping?  I can be faithful in how I treat my wife and my kids.  I can be faithful in how I treat Grand Marais and my neighbors here.

Dear Jesus, help me act rightly and live with faith today.  Amen.

Restraint in a Cave

1 Samuel 24:5 "Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe." 

Saul had been pursuing David in order to kill him.  During this pursuit, Saul takes a break in a cave that David and his men just happen to be hiding in.  This was David's chance to kill Saul but he doesn't.  He just cuts off a corner of his robe... and then feels guilty about even doing that!

David had a chance that most men would have taken advantage of.  But instead of seeking revenge, he shows restraint.  And even in his restraint, he feels bad! How quickly do I want to seek vengeance or get back at someone?  If I was in that cave, what would I have done?  God wants vengeance to be his.  Jesus wants us to love and forgive our enemies.  That's very hard to do in a cave, and in 2011. 

Dear Jesus, help me act like David and leave the vengeance thing to you.  Amen.

Insecure Saul

1 Samuel 18:29 "...Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days."

David has become very successful because the Lord is with him.  His continued success begins to drive Saul crazy.  At first Saul is angry about all the attention David is getting, but soon becomes afraid of David.  Instead of focusing on leading the nation and following God, Saul becomes paranoid and jealous of David.

Why do we concern ourselves so much with what other people have and have accomplished?  Why do we care so much about their stuff?  Envy and jealousy can be so destructive. It's so easy to look at others and see what they have gained and the praise they recieve and feel poorly about ourselves.  This is when envy begins to grow-and it all stems from our own insecurities!  In Christ, we have no reason to feel insecure.  We have eternal security in Jesus!  Today, I need to focus on God and what he wants, celebrate others' victories, and be confident in my own skin!

Dear Jesus, help me to not be jealous or envious or fearful of anyone today.  Amen.

Saul's Risky Decision

1 Samuel 17:37 "...Go and the Lord be with you."

The story of David and Goliath is just too good to pass up!  Even as an adult, I still love this story!  David, the boy shepherd pleads with King Saul to allow him to go fight Goliath.  Eventually, Saul concedes and says to David, "Go and the Lord be with you."

I thought today I'd see this story through Saul's eyes.  His days are numbered as king and he chooses to take a risk on this boy.  What was he thinking?  His troops must have been skeptical and must have mocked him.  Maybe for a moment, Saul was in tune with God's will?  Maybe for a moment, he chose to do the right thing and display faith in God?  Sometimes God's will doesn't make much sense.  But sometimes, when God speaks, or leads, or prompts us, we need to just obey.

Dear Jesus, help me follow your leading this week and obey you at each step. Amen.

Sweet Harp Music

1 Samuel 16:21 "David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers."

God has decided that Saul is no longer fit to be king.  He has Samuel go and anoint the new king-the boy David.  Before Saul gets word of the new change in regime, he invites David into his home to play the harp for him!  What a coincidence!  How ironic!

I can picture Saul swaying away in his hammock to David's sweet harp music with no idea in the world what was about to happen.  Saul even goes so far as to make David his armor-bearer!  I think this story shows how God often orchestrates situations in an amazing, fantastic, and at times humorous way.  God is able to use any and all situations for his glory and the good of his people.  What situations have I found myself in right now?  God is using those for some purpose.  I better pay attention!

Dear Jesus, give me eyes to see what you have placed before me today.  Amen.

What I'm After

1 Samuel 13:14 "...the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart..."

Saul in his early days as king screws up and Samuel tells him that the Lord is already looking for his replacement!  Samuel tells Saul that God is seeking a man who is after his own (the Lord's) heart.  This assumes Saul was not after God's heart and had to have been heard to hear for Saul.  Although maybe not since he wasn't after God's heart in the first place!

I am "after" so many things.  I'm after a great marriage, strong family, nice home, solid income, exciting vacations, nice cars, physical health, spiritual maturity...and on and on I could go.  But where is God on the list?  Is he in the top ten?  Is he #1?  Is he alone the list?  Am I truly after his heart?  What if I sought after his heart alone, and let the rest take care of itself?  What does that look like and how do I get there? 

Dear Jesus, help me seek after your heart alone.  Amen.

Among the Baggage

1 Samuel 10:22 "...And the Lord said, 'Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage.'"

Samuel is standing before the tribes of Israel to introduce Saul, the next king.  When the time comes to present Saul he is not to be found anywhere and God points out that Saul is hiding "among the baggage."

Why would Saul hide among the baggage?  Was he scared?  Was he anxious or worried about becoming king?  Sometimes in those clutch moments, when it's all on the line, we freeze.  We get scared, we get timid and we hide among the baggage hoping no one finds us.  God has big plans for all of us and he assures us he will always be with us.  Earlier in verse seven, Samuel assures Saul that "whatever your hand finds to do, God is with you."  He is with us.  We should not be timid, we should not be scared.  When the time is right for us to step up and lead, we must not hide in the baggage!

Dear Jesus, give me your strength and confidence and never let me hide in the baggage.  Amen.

Random Ramblings on Love and Choice

1 Samuel 9:16 "...I have looked upon my people, for their cry has reached me."

The Israelites suffer from envy and desperately want a new shiny king like everyone else on the block.  God knows about the baggage that comes with a king, but decides to throw them a bone and allows Samuel to grant them a king.

God heard their cries and seemingly changed his mind.  Even though he knew better and thought differently!  Hmmm.  God loves us.  And out of that love, he grants us things and allows us certain freedoms, even though he may know better.  This love and freedom allow us to make our own choices.  We can choose wisely, we can choose poorly.  We can choose God, we can choose ourselves.  And all of this results from his love.

Dear Jesus, thank you for your love today.  Amen.

Curious Beth Shemeshians or is it Shemeshites?

1 Samuel 6: 20 "...and the men of Beth Shemesh asked, 'Who can stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?'"

The Philistines had beat up on the Israelites and captured the ark of the covenant.  In each Philistine city the ark was kept, God sent a plague of tumors on the people and killed many of them.  Having enough with that, the Philistines sent the ark back to a town called Beth Shemesh.  In Beth Shemesh, a few folks got a bit curious, looked inside the ark, and died. 

It seems the ark of the covenant, the very essence and presence of God, was a death trap!  The men of Beth Shemesh even asked in verse 20, "who can stand in the presence of the Lord?"  I don't totally understand what this was all about back then, but I know today we can stand in the presence of God thanks to Jesus.  Jesus is our high priest and on the cross demolished everything that separates us from the love of God.  I can be confident today knowing I am in a right relationship with God.

Dear Jesus, thank you for your redeeming work on the cross.  Amen.

Not Many Visions

1 Samuel 3:1 "...In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions."

God is about to call Samuel and the writer comments that the word of God was absent among the people.  God was not being listened to and therefore was not speaking and moving among his people.

So often the Bible parallels our day today.  Many question the existence of God or ask where is he when things go wrong.  But for so many of us we are not listening to him, or for him.  I think God gives us the choice to choose or reject him and when we reject him he says "fine, be on your own."  I need to more actively listen for God's voice and follow his leading.  Casually reading his word when I feel like it is not enough.  It must become a discipline, a habit for me each and every day.  I long for that and need to make it happen.  I want to see visions!

Dear Jesus, help me listen to you and your word and allow it to speak truth into my life today.  Amen.

Meet My Rep Jesus

1 Samuel 2:25 "If a man sins against another man, God may mediate for him; but if a man sins against the Lord, who will intercede for him?"

Eli the priest has a couple bad sons.  They are sleeping with the temple servants and abusing peoples sacrifices.  Eli confronts them and points out the mistake of sinning directly against God.

Eli came long before Jesus' time.  Jesus is our high priest and he does intercede on our behalf before God.  He is our agent, our representative, and our spokesman before God.  Jesus is on our side!  Jesus is on my side today.  He is pulling for me, directing me, counseling me, and cheering me on.  With Jesus on my side I can do anything.  What does he have for me today?

Dear Jesus, remind me you are on my side and I can do all things through you.  Amen.

Our Kinsmen Redeemer

Ruth 2:12 "May the Lord repay you for what you have done.  May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge."

Despite somewhat desperate circumstances, God blesses and rewards Ruth.  He provides for her a kinsmen redeemer who essentially rescues her from her situation.  God rewarded her for being a virtuous woman.

The historical application of Ruth's story is that like Boaz, Jesus is our kinsmen redeemer and has paid our debt and rescued us.  We all have sin and shame and junk in our lives.  We have this "debt" and Jesus has paid it for us.  He stepped into our situation, out of his great love for us to redeem, rescue, and save us.  I once was indebted to my sin, and now am forever indebted to Jesus.  I was once a slave to sin, but am now free!

Dear Jesus, thank you for redeeming me!  Amen.

As He Saw Fit

Judges 21:25 "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit."

The book of Judges closes with this phrase.  And by reading the last few chapters of Judges again, I clearly see that everyone indeed just did as they saw fit.  Israel was a chaotic, violent, and sinful place to be at times.

I always want to do "as I see fit."  I don't like anyone telling me what to do.  I think I know best.  But usually that doesn't bring me to a good place.  When I am faithful in my devotions, and in prayer, that brings me to a good place.  That is when I am most faithful and healthy.  It is when I am obediently listening to God's voice and hearing him speak truth into my life. I would hate for my epitaph to ever read "Jake, did as he saw fit."  I want to be known and remembered for following Christ. 

Dear Jesus, help me trust you and not me today.  Amen.

The Real King

Judges 19:1 "In those days Israel had no king..."

This phrase is repeated several times in this portion of Judges.  Israel had no king.  They wanted one, but God was hesitant initially to place a king over them.  It's interesting to see how often the writer of Judges mentions the fact that "Israel had no king."  This was a big deal to him, and the nation.

Maybe Israel was missing the point?  They seem very concerned with having a king (hence the continual reference to having none) but maybe they had one all along?  God wanted to be their king.  They were so super focused on an earthly, human, powerful king, that maybe they missed the fact that their God was right there with them the entire time!  They looked past the real king to search in vain for their version of a king.  The same thing happened with Jesus.  Does the same thing happen today?  With me?  My king is Jesus and needs to be him alone.

Dear Jesus, help me to make you king in my life everyday.  Amen.

Samson and Jesus

Judges 13:5 "...because you will conceive and give birth to a son.  No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines."

An angel appears to the wife of a man named Manoah (she is barren) and tells her that she will conceive a child who will rescue God's people.  Samson, the child to be, will be a Nazirite and set apart for God. Mom and dad are pretty excited. 

This is the beginning to Samson's story but it sounds very much like that of Jesus'.  Samson will be born to a woman who has not had any other children, he will be set apart for God, and he will rescue God's people.  Does the life of Samson, even his birth, look forward to the coming of Jesus?  I think so.  Even in Judges, God is foreshadowing what is to come!  God's word is so awesome!  It speaks of things that have come, and things to come.  God has a new word for each day!  Even though I am reading Judges, I see Jesus.  He is here in this story-in fact he is the story!

Dear Jesus, thank you for your story.  Amen.

Good Times and Bad

Judges 10: 14 "Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!"

The Israelites again have been worshipping false gods.  They worshipped Baal, Asherah, the gods of Aram, Sidon, and Moab to name a few.  So when they get into trouble and come to God to save them, he tells them to turn to the gods they've been serving.  "Maybe they will rescue you?" he taunts.

I don't worship Baal or Asherah.  But what "things" am I putting my hope in?  My job, my money, my home?  God alone saves.  In times of trouble, I can only rely on him.  So maybe in good times, I should rely on him as well. 

Dear Jesus, help me rely on you in good times and in bad.  Amen.

Backseat Gideon

Judges 8: 23 "But Gideon told them, 'I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.'"

Gideon destroys the Midianites and because of this the Israelites want to make Gideon the king.  Gideon responds that neither he nor his sons will be king, but God alone will rule. 

Gideon has the table set for himself.  He has this great opportunity to take control and be king.  How many people work an entire lifetime for an opportunity like this?  Yet, Gideon declines and instead points the people back to God.  This must of required great self control! How often am I quick to take something for myself?  How often do I have a "me first" attitude?  I can do better at putting God ahead of my ambitions, wants, and desires.

Dear Jesus, help me remember to put you, then others, ahead of myself and my ambition.  Amen.

The Weakest in Manasseh

Judges 7:15 "'But Lord,' Gideon asked, 'how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.'"

The Israelites once again have turned from God and this time God raises up Gideon to save them.  As the angel of the Lord is challenging Gideon to go and save the Israelites from the Midianites, Gideon repeats this all too common and rather stupid question.

There appears to be a recurring theme in God's story of God using the weak and the small.  Gideon believes himself to be inadequate for the job, but the angel of the Lord disagrees.  God continually does this.  And we continually doubt him.  How foolish are we?  If he is God, can't he do anything through anybody at anytime?  Why do we doubt, whine, and complain?  God uses the weak.  He uses the small.  He does this to all the better show off his glory and power.  In our weakness he is strong.  What am I weak at today?  I need God to be my strength in that area.

Dear Jesus, thank you for being my strength.  Help me to not doubt you.  Amen.

You Go Girl

Judges 4: 21 "But Jael, Heber's wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay asleep, exhausted.  She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died."

At this point in Israel's rollercoaster relationship with God, they find themselves harassed by Jabin king of Canaan.  A gal named Deborah emerges as the next judge and she declares war on Jabin and the commander of his army, Sisera.  As the Israelites were routing Sisera and his army, Sisera escapes to what he believes to be a friendly home of another gal named Jael.  Unfortunately for Sisera, he takes a nap in Jael's home, and while sleeping she drives a tent peg through his skull!

Another awesome story in the OT! And this one includes some brave women as the main characters.  What can I learn?  God has his plan and he uses everyone and everything-men, women, children, and tent pegs!  And as always, God continues to show his faithfulness to his people despite their infantile behavior. 

Dear Jesus, thank you for the godly leaders in my life-men and women alike.  Amen.

The Tale of Ehud the Left-Handed Judge and Eglon the Fat King

Judges 3:15 "Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he gave them a deliverer-Ehud, a left handed man..."

The Israelites have entered the promised land and have seen the faithfulness and power of God, yet they continue to desert him and follow after other gods.  Each time God allows other nations to conquer Israel, yet in his mercy he raises up a judge to guide and rescue them.  This particular judge is named Ehud and he is left-handed!  He also stabs a rival king in his fat belly with a sword!

The story of Ehud just jumped out at me today.  So often we take the Bible so seriously, always looking for depth and theological wisdom to guide us in our pursuit of God.  And that's all well and good but sometimes it's fun to look back at our story and be entertained a bit.  Ehud stabs a king named Eglon who is so fat the sword sinks into his belly and Ehud can't get it out!  That's kind of funny. At least to a youth pastor. What can I learn from this story?  Lots of things.  But today I just enjoyed the story. 

Dear Jesus, help me be reminded daily of my role in your story.  Amen.

Karma in Judges

Judges 1:7 "Then Adoni-Bezek said, 'Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off have picked up scraps under my table.  Now God has paid me back for what I did to them.'"

The Israelites are attempting to rid the promised land of all inhabitants.  In the process they capture Adoni-Bezek and cut off his thumbs and big toes.  He realizes he has done this kind of thing to others in the past and accepts his fate.

You can kind of see some karma here in Judges 1! I don't think the Bible teaches the principle of karma, but there may be some truth to "what goes around comes around."  If nothing else, Adoni-Bezek was able to see that maybe he deserved what he had coming.  So, what have I been spreading around? What's due to me?  Have I been spreading good karma or bad karma?  I want to live the kind of life that when good things happen, people can say I deserved it!

Dear Jesus, help me love, serve, and be kind to others. Remind me that my actions have future consequences.  Amen.

More than a Sign

Joshua 24:15 "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the river, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.  But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

Joshua is about to die and is passing on some final words to his people.  He reminds them of the covenant they have with God and what blessings and curses may await them. He challenges them to decide now, once and for all, who they will serve.

This verse is one of the most quoted and most "turned into a cheesy wall decoration" in history.  I remember my aunts, uncles, grandparents, and friends homes had wooden wall hangings with this verse on it.  I don't have this wall art in my house.  Sure it would be nice, but I hope this is the kind of thing that is in our hearts.  My hope is that this verse is displayed through my family's actions whether there is a sign or not. I pray that my family will draw a line in the sand and choose to follow Jesus. 

Dear Jesus, help my family serve you, even in the absence of a sign.  Amen.

Faithful at the Community Center

Joshua 21:45 "Not one of all the Lord's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled."

Joshua and the Israelites had just finished dividing up the land.  Each tribe had a portion of the land set aside for them.  God had fulfilled his promise to the Israelites and they now enjoyed a time of peace.

God is faithful.  As I look back throughout my life, I see that God has always been faithful to me.  His timing may not be my timing, but he is always faithful.  In my family and friends lives God also has proven to be faithful and true.  So when I have a hard time trusting in him I must realize the problem in the equation is me, not God.  He is faithful, I am too often not.  Too often my trust is flawed.  Tonight during the lock in, I need to trust God and know that he is good and faithful.

Dear Jesus, help me trust in your faithfulness tonight at the Shoreview Community Center!  Amen.

War

Joshua 11:20 "For it was the Lord himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses."

Joshua is busy kicking butt and taking names.  He wages war and destroys several cities and groups of people.

I may never fully understand why God "hardened their hearts" and seemingly manipulated these wars.  I trust he had his reasons.  I do believe God is saddened by war today.  And today the US finds itself in three wars-Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Libya.  Yes, Libya may not be the definition of an all out war, but it still is a military conflict we are in.  When will it end?  Maybe the questions isn't when will it end but who will end war?  Ultimately it is Jesus who gives us lasting and real peace.  In times of war, we must fight for peace, and put our trust in the peace that Jesus provides.

Dear Jesus, I pray for the innocent ones in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya today.  I also pray for our enemies. Protect them all and reveal yourself to them. Amen.

Sun Stand Still

Joshua 10: 14 "There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a man..."

Joshua and the Israelites are busy kicking butt and taking names in Canaan.  At this point, they are chasing down some enemies and Joshua calls out for God to make the "sun stand still" so they can continue the fighting and mop up on the armies of the Amorites.

This verse says that the "Lord listened to a man."  Does God listen to me?  What kinds of things am I asking of God?  Are they his will?  Are they honorable?  Do I have faith that he will hear me?  In what ways do I need the sun to stand still?  Am I brave enough and faithful enough to ask? 

Dear Jesus, I pray that you will make the sun stand still for me as I reach more young people for you.  Give me more time, more creativity, more passion, and literally more hours in the day for you to work through me.  Amen.

A Melt Down

Joshua 7:5 "...At this the hearts of the people melted and became like water."

The Israelites had just conquered Jericho in a mighty way.  During the conquest, Achan takes some plunder secretly for himself bringing a curse on the nation.  Days later when they set out to conquer Ai, they get routed and the Israelites (Joshua included) melt down and lose hope.

How quickly do I lose hope and want to give up when things go bad?  I think I get frustrated and freak out a bit too soon sometimes when faced with adversity.  I forget that God is bigger than my setbacks and inconveniences.  And as in the case of the Israelites and Achan, there is usually a reason things fail!  I need to take a deep breath, relax, ask if I did anything wrong, and then trust in God.  This is a faithful way to live.

Dear Jesus, help me to not melt and become like water in the face of adversity.  Amen.

Kind of Like Moses

Deut. 34: 12 "For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel."

Moses has led his people from slavery in Egypt to the border of the promised land.  Due to some previous sins, Moses is not allowed entry in.  Instead, Moses dies here on Mt. Nebo overlooking the land God promised to his people.

Moses is remembered as a great man who did mighty and powerful things for Israel.  Great words and a great memorial surrounded his death.  Will the same be done and said for me?  Do I care?  Should I care?  I hope I live a life worthy of the kind of remembrance Moses received but not for that reason.  Moses relied on God and trusted him despite the circumstances.   I may not ever be Moses but I can also rely on and trust in God today.

Dear Jesus, help me be more like Moses and more importantly, more like you today.  Amen.

The Truth Hurts

Deut. 31:16 "And the Lord said to Moses: 'You are going to rest with your fathers, and these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering.'"

Moses is about to die so God calls him and Joshua into a private meeting in the tabernacle.  He tells them that yes, Moses is going to die and shortly thereafter, the people will "prostitute" themselves and turn from God.

I found this passage interesting because Joshua was standing right there!  It was one thing to tell Moses, who was about to die anyway, that the people will soon rebel, but it was quite another to tell Joshua.  God just got done telling Joshua earlier in chapter 31 to be brave and courageous as the new leader. I'm sure God's disappointing prophesy did much to bolster his courage and enthusiasm!  What do I take from this?  God has his ways and he calls 'em like he sees 'em.  He does not sugar coat things or coddle us.  He is in the truth telling business no matter if it hurts.  I can learn from this.

Dear Jesus, help me speak truth-even when it hurts.  Amen.

Heart Surgery

Deut. 30:6 "The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live."

Deuteronomy chapter 28 is rough.  It contains a bunch of curses for the people of God if they turn from him.  Chapter 30 is pretty sweet. It contains some blessings for the people if they turn towards him.  And in verse six God tells them that he will circumcise their hearts. 

Circumcision was a physical sign that the people belonged to God.  Here God promises to circumcise hearts.  And that's really what he's after most anyway-our hearts.  Where is my heart today?  Yes I am getting good at the "Do's and Don't List" of Christianity.  And that's all well and good, but where is my heart?  Is my heart circumcised and set apart for my savior?  I need to start there and let the list take care of itself.   

Dear Jesus, help my heart to be set apart for you and you alone.  Amen.

Who I Am

Deut. 24: 18 "Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there..."

As God is giving his people the law, he reminds them every so often that they were once slaves in Egypt and that it was He who rescued them.

God wants us to be humble and grounded.  God wants us to remember who we are and where we came from.  Yes we were created in God's image and he has an awesome purpose for our lives, but we are also sinful people who only by the grace and mercy of God have salvation and hope.  It's a lovely tension we must live in.  We cannot swing too far either way on this "self perception pendulum."  Occasionally I need to be reminded I was created in God's image and am loved.  But more often than not, I need to be reminded of my sinfulness and total dependence in Christ.  How do I need to be humbled today?

Dear Jesus, help me remember exactly who I am and exactly who you are.  And help me not confuse the two.  Amen.

Hung on a Tree

Deut. 21: 23 "...anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse..."

Deuteronomy is a book of laws.  In chapter 21, it is said that a man executed by hanging should be buried the same day because "anyone hung on a tree is under God's curse."  And if someone (or something like a dead body) is under God's curse-well you want that to disappear real fast!

This statement is referred to in Galatians because Jesus was also "hung on tree" so to speak. So Jesus, on the cross, was under God's curse. God's wrath was on Jesus.  That's orthodox Christianity 101 I guess.  So God is pretty pissed, he takes it out on Jesus, and Jesus saves us from...God?  Is that how it works? Rob Bell poses this question (as well as others) in an upcoming book due out end of March that has caused some serious controversy.  I can't wait to read it!  Did Jesus really save us from God?  Is that what God is like?  I could list 50,000 more questions that snowball from here. 

Dear Jesus, help me today to put my faith in you even though I don't have all the answers.  Amen.

King

Deut. 17: 20 "...and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left.  Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel."

God is making a provision for a future king to rule Israel.  God gives the people some standards and qualifications for a future king.

The movie The King's Speech is up for a few Oscar's this Sunday.   It's the true story of King George VI who struggled to overcome a few speech impediments as well as a doubting public to become a great communicator and king.  I have never lived in a kingdom under the rule and reign of a king.  Much of the world has and to some degree still does.  In Deuteronomy, God wants Israel to be clear that choosing a king is no small task.  A king must be a noble person with character and integrity.  I may not have an earthly, political king, but I do have an eternal, supernatural, miraculous king in Jesus.  In a very real and true sense I belong to the greatest kingdom of all time!

Dear Jesus, help me learn to love and adore you, my great king!  Amen.

Multi-Site Church

Deut. 12:5 "But you are to seek the place the Lord your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling.  To that place you must go;"

God instructs the Israelites they are to have one place where they are to worship him.  He wants them to distinguish themselves from the surrounding nations who worshipped pagan gods in many locations.

Historically and culturally, it makes sense for the Israelites to have one central location to worship.  I get it.  But thank goodness it's not that way anymore.  Jesus said in John 4 "the time has come when we will worship God in spirit and in truth."  It's no longer about a geographic location but rather the location of our hearts.  We are free to worship our Lord at church, indoors, outdoors, in Jerusalem and Maplewood!  In fact, true worship isn't about sitting in one place with our eyes closed and hands raised, it's about moving our feet and using our hands to love others!

Dear Jesus help me to worship you more outside of the church walls than I do indoors.  Amen.

Dinner Conversation

Deut. 11:19 "Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

Deut. 11 is awesome!  There is loads of great stuff in this passage but verse 19 stuck out to me.  God instructs his people to discuss him, his word, and his law at all times.  They are to discuss God and his truth when they are sitting at home, walking along the road, all day every day.

I think if every home in the world did this, our world would be a much better place.  What if discussing God and his truth were an integral part of our life-just as we discuss the day's events, weather and sports?  I need to do this with my family.  The cumulative effect of these kinds of discussions could literally be life changing for my children.   What if we enjoyed discussing our savior more than the five day outlook, who in Hollywood is in rehab, and what the final five man rotation for the Twins will be?  Tonight's dinner discussion will be Jesus.

Dear Jesus, help me have you on my mind more than anything else.  Amen.

Short and Sweet

Deut. 10:12-13 "And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul, and to observe the commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?"

Moses is reminding the Israelites of their calling and purpose before they enter the promised land.

Deut. 10:12-22 contains some good stuff.  I like it.  Moses puts it pretty straightforward here for his people.  Amidst all of the rules, laws, regulations, and history, he boils it down to this.  Fear the Lord.  Walk in his ways.  Love him.  Serve him with all of our heart and soul.  Obey his commands.  Stick to that and the rest should come easy. 

Dear Jesus help me follow just what this says today.  Amen.

Do Not Forget

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 wants to make sure his people do not forget him and what he has done for them.  Before they proceed to the promised land, God wants to make sure they remember who's in charge and who rescued them.

Remembering is tough.  I just found some older photos this week and it's amazing to see faces and places from years ago.  I found myself saying "oh I remember that."  But I only remembered the moment after being reminded by the photo. I do the same thing with God.  I too easily forget him and what he has done for me. Thank goodness for his word to remind me.  I need daily, hourly reminders of him. 

Dear Jesus, help me remember you and your word each day, each hour and at every moment.  Amen.

No Other

Deut. 4:39 "Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below.  There is no other."

Moses is preparing to give the law to the Israelites and he wants to make it clear there is just one God.  At this time most people were polytheistic so the idea that there was just one God was rather new.

I love the line, "there is no other."  I need to remind myself of that often.  When I am tempted to go seeking after "others" I need to remember Moses' words.  I often am tempted by "other gods" and "other loves" such as money, power, fame, comfort and pleasure.  But Moses is clear; in heaven and on earth, "there is no other."

Dear Jesus, remind me often that there is no other.  Amen.

Fair

Deut. 1:17 "Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of any man, for judgement belongs to God..."

Moses has realized that he alone is not capable of leading, directing, and caring for the Israelites all on his own.  God instructs him to create a team/system of judges who can help him lead the nation.  In this verse, God instructs them to not "show partiality in judging."

God wants us to be fair.  God does not want us to show favoritism to people who may be powerful, rich or attractive.  We should treat poor and rich, powerful and weak as equals.  No man is above another man in God's eyes.  Do I show favoritism in my life?  With my students?  I need to remember that we are all God's children and we all deserve respect and equality.

Dear Jesus, help me be fair with everyone.  Amen.

Preparing East of the Jordan

Numbers 36: 13 "These are the commands and regulations the Lord gave through Moses to the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho."

God has has taken the time to give the Israelites the law before they enter the promised land.  He wants to prepare them before they move in and take up residence.

What is God preparing me for?  The Israelites did a poor job of listening to God's preparations.  I need to do better.  I think my daily SOAP is one step in listening for God and preparing for my future journeys.  God has big things in store for me and my family, as he did the Israelites.  Am I ready? 

Dear Jesus, help me listen to your voice and be ready to follow your plans.  Amen.

Nasty Cookie

Numbers 33:55 "But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live."

God wants the Israelites to make sure they drive out the inhabitants of the promised land.  He knows if they do not they will forever cause them trouble. 

God wants us to drive out all of the sin in our lives.  Even a little bit left over can cause us trouble for our entire lives.  Where in my life have I compromised and allowed certain amounts and levels of sin to remain?  I may think it's only a small sin, or it's only every now and then, but even a small amount can ruin things.  This reminds me of the old youth ministry object lesson of a cookie made with dough containing a tiny amount of dog poop. Would you eat the cookie?  It's only a little poop.  Well of course not!  Even a tiny amount ruins the entire cookie.  Sin is the same way.  God knows this. The Israelites never learned this.  Will I?

Dear Jesus, help me rid myself of all of the sin in my life.  Amen.

Do What You Say

Numbers 30:2 "When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said."

Just outside the promised land, God continues to feed the Israelites the law.  Here he gives them some rules concerning oaths and pledges; essentially telling the people to keep their word.

So much of God's law is common sense.  Stuff we know we ought to do, yet God knows we need to hear it again and again.  I find myself often enough breaking my promises.  I say I'll do something and one, two days pass and I've forgotten.  It's so easy to do.  God wants us to be people who keep our word because a man who keeps his word can be trusted.  Say what you mean and mean what you say.  Say what you'll do and do what you say.  Good words for today.

Dear Jesus, help me do what I said I would.  Amen.

Why Wait for the Donkey?

Numbers 22: 31 "Then the Lord opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn.  So he bowed low and fell facedown."

Balak, king of Moab has asked Balaam to curse the Israelites.  So God shows up and tells Balaam not to do it. But Balak is stubborn and continues to entice Balaam to cast a spell.  On Balaam's way to meet with Balak, God sends an angel to "persuade" him to listen to God and not Balak.  The angel stands in the road, blocks Balaam's donkey, and eventually speaks through the donkey!  Balaam finally recognizes the angel and bows down to him.

I am like Balaam.  Sometimes I just don't listen and don't learn.  Somedays I really could use a donkey to show up and just get my attention.  But it really shouldn't take a talking animal to get through to me.  God has given us his word and his spirit.  He has given us Jesus!  Today I need to pay attention to what God wants to say to me and not wait until some crazy animal begins speaking!

Dear Jesus, help me to hear you today.  Amen.

The Plague has Started

Numbers 16:46 "...Wrath has come out from the Lord; the plague has started."

These words sound like something out of an epic scene in a blockbuster Hollywood film!  I can see Gerard Butler shouting these words in a movie like 300.  In reality, Korah, some of his friends, and a bunch of the Israelites have seriously ticked off God.  He responds by swallowing many of them into the earth and later sending a plague that finishes off 14,700 of them.  Lesson of the day; don't grumble against Moses, Aaron or the Lord or the earth will open up and swallow you Temple of Doom style.

What is is this?  Honestly.  I struggle at times matching the God of Numbers who sends plagues to his own people with the Jesus from Nazareth who forgives, heals, and cries.  A dude named Maricon once thought the same thing and decided the God of the Old Testament can't be the God of the New.  I don't agree with that at all but he does make an interesting observation. At the end of the day I believe in a God who is just and merciful.  I believe in a God who hates sin and loves sinners. 

Dear Jesus, help me trust in you and in your justice and mercy.  Amen.

Shut Up

Numbers 12:13 "So Moses cried out to the Lord, 'O God please heal her!'"

Aaron and Miriam began speaking poorly about Moses and his decision to marry his Cushite wife.  Essentially, they begin gossiping about Moses. God of course hears about it (ha ha- like you can hide from God) and comes down in a cloud pillar and confronts them.  For some reason only Miriam is punished (with leprosy) and both Miriam and Aaron say they're sorry.  Moses being the nice guy he is, asks God to heal Miriam.  I wonder if his Cushite wife would have been so forgiving!?

Our lips can get us into big trouble.  Sometimes it's just better to shut up.  Oftentimes, it's better to just shut up.  I guess that's all I need to say today.  That's it.  Maybe today, I need to recognize when to shut up? 

Dear Jesus, help me know when to keep my mouth shut.  Amen.

Big Arm

Numbers 11:23 "The Lord answered Moses, 'Is the Lord's arm too short?  You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you.'"

The Israelites have again complained about their situation in the wilderness.  They are upset about their dinner options so God decides he is going to send them another round of quail-enough quail so that it comes out of their nostrils!  Moses questions if that is even possible and God responds, "Is the Lord's arm too short?"  Gotta love it.

Is God's arm too short?  Of course not.  So why do we act like it is?  My plans, prayers, dreams and hopes too often represent my arm.  They ought to level up to the Lord's arm.  If he exists and if he is who he says he is, then nothing is too out of reach or too difficult for him.  So, I must plan big, dream big, and go big, cuz he's got a big arm.  He's got a big gun!  Bigger than Peyton Manning's!  It's playoff time, sue me.

Dear Jesus, help me rely on and trust your arm, not mine. Amen.

Put the Holy Water Down Woman!

Numbers 5:29 "This, then, is the law of jealousy when a woman goes astray and defiles herself while married to her husband..."

So, Numbers chapter 5 is weird.  It includes this "test" for a wife suspected of cheating.  The wife would be brought before the priest and something similar to the Salem witch trials began.  It involved sacrifices, holy water, and a curse-if she was guilty. 

This is just a hunch, but I think this is the kind of thing Jesus came to set us free from.  At least I hope so.  Of course the question remains, why this seemingly odd and somewhat inhumane test?  Why was this part of God's plan for the Israelites?  I'll have to do some digging into this one.  For now, I put my trust in the fact that Jesus has set us free and has given us new life.  We can set the holy water down now.

Dear Jesus, thank you for saving us and setting us free.  Amen.

A Year Off?

Lev. 25: 4 "But in the seventh year the land is to have a sabbath of rest, a sabbath to the Lord.  Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards."

God is instructing the Israelites on how to live as they move in and possess the promised land.  He tells them to go about their business and plant and harvest for six years but on the seventh they are to let the land rest.

I cannot imagine the faith and trust it must have taken to take a year off from planting and harvesting.  This was their means of commerce and the backbone of the economy.  And for one entire year they are let the land rest.  Would I have the faith to take a year off from my job?  Do I have enough saved up to take an entire year off? Would I have enough faith during that year to trust God would provide?  This sabbath rest was designed to show that we must trust God in every walk of life-even when it comes to our business, our pocketbooks, and our dinner. 

Dear Jesus help me trust you in all things with all things.  Amen.