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.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
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.
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.
Friday, November 18, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
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.
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.
Monday, November 14, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
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.
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.
Friday, November 04, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, November 03, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)