Eternal Life

John 8:51 "I assure you, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!"

The Christmas season is often one of reflection as we remember the year that has past.  It can be a difficult season as this is when the loss of a loved one hurts the most.  But in the midst of the Christmas story and the life of Jesus is this truth...Jesus promises eternal life.  That is worth celebrating, singing about and sharing with others!

Good Words

John 6:68  "Simon Peter replied, "Lord, to whom would we go? You alone have the words that give eternal life."

Given the permission to leave by Jesus, Peter says there is nowhere else to go.  Of course there were other places to go, other leaders to follow, and other philosophies to live by.  But Jesus had something special-the words that give eternal life.  You can't find those words just anywhere. They don't show up in any book, website, blog or tweet.  They come from Jesus alone.  So honestly, why go anywhere else? 

Late Wine

John 2:10 "Usually a host serves the best wine first," he said. "Then, when everyone is full and doesn't care, he brings out the less expensive wines. But you have kept the best until now!"  

I don't think this is the exact intent of this story, but here's a thought...sometimes Jesus saves the best for last.  Sometimes things don't happen when I want them to happen.  Sometimes God's timing is not identical to mine.  But, Jesus is always good.  And sometimes his good appears to come late-at the end of the party.  The point-be patient.  Wait around til the end of the party.  Have faith that Jesus comes through in the end.

Incarnation

John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."

I cannot get to God. So he came to me. We call this Incarnation. We call this Christmas. God came to me just as I am. That is beautiful!

Timing

Proverbs 27:14 "If you shout a pleasant greeting to your neighbor too early in the morning, it will be counted as a curse!"

Timing is everything.  I need to pay attention to my timing.  If I am too early or too late I may miss out on something big God has in store for my life.  And ultimately, I need to listen to God's timing in all things.  I have to allow him to set the clock in my life!

Too Much Honey

Proverbs 25:27 "Just as it is not good to eat too much honey, it is not good for people to think about all the honors they deserve."

Too much honey can make you sick and maybe add a few pounds.  Too much pride can make you spiritually sick and maybe lose a few friends. 

Hot Air

Proverbs 14:23 "Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty!" 

Talk is cheap and our world is full of big talkers!  Burning fossil fuels didn't cause global warming, our hot air did!  Everywhere I turn someone is talking up a storm claiming to know something they probably know nothing about.  This verse teaches me that talk leads nowhere, but good hard work brings me something.  That sounds good to me and makes sense.  Today, I'll talk less, and hustle a little more. 

Honesty is the Best Policy

Proverbs 11: 5 "The godly are directed by their honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin."

I'd like to be "directed by my honesty."  I don't know that I am all the time.  I don't struggle with  lying or anything but oftentimes, I feel like I sugarcoat the truth, or refrain from speaking truth when I know I should.  I need God to help me be honest in all circumstances, whether it is comfortable or not!

Remember

Proverbs 7:3 "Tie them on your fingers as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart."

We are forgetful creatures us humans.  And God knows this.  So he instructs to do whatever it takes to remember his teachings and commands.  Whether it means writing them down in our hearts, attaching them to our fingers, or making a note in our smart phones, we are to remember! 

Happy Wife = Happy Life

Proverbs 31: 30, 31 "Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.  Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise."

Happy wife = happy life!

Own It

Proverbs 28:13 "People who cover over their sins will not prosper. But if they confess and forsake them, they will receive mercy."

Ouch.  Tough verse.  Sweeping things under the rug is easy.  But God doesn't call us to an easy life.  He wants us to do the hard thing and be open, honest, and real about our junk. He wants us to truly own it.    

Valid Criticism

Proverbs 25:12 "Valid criticism is as treasured by the one who heeds it as jewelry made from finest gold."

It may be the Minnesota nice in all of us, but valid criticism is hard to come by.  Often we don't want to offend, or ruffle peoples feathers.  So we are slow to offer criticism and often upset when others give it to us!   If we were wise, we would accept it, and share it a bit more frequently. Valid criticism that is!

Short Memories

Proverbs 24:29 "Do not say, 'I'll do to him as he has done to me; I'll pay that man back for what he did.'"

Jesus said something similar to this.  Revenge and payback are not what we do.  We forgive.  We move forward.  We have short memories. 

Sponges

Proverbs 22:6 "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

Children are like sponges.  They soak up and absorb everything they are exposed to and taught!  That includes knowledge, music, language and ideas.  Are my kids soaking up Jesus?  Are they absorbing the good news?  My #1 job in life is to help them accomplish this.  That is my job as their dad. 

Proverbs 21

Proverbs 21: 21 "He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor." 

First things need to be first.  If I pursue righteousness and love, everything else will fall into place... and in fact, I won't even have to worry about everything else! 

Strong Tower

Proverbs 18:10 "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."

Solomon claims that the Lord is like a strong tower that keeps the righteous safe and secure.  He is a impenetrable fortress that keeps the wicked out and allows the righteous harbour from their enemies. 

Who do I run to when in trouble?  Who do I run to in times of stress and doubt?  I need to be running to God.  I need to be running towards him.  It's interesting that in this verse, the righteous do indeed run to the "God-tower."  It's no casual walk or stroll to him.  No easy jaunt to safety.  We must run.  Am I running?  How can I run faster?  He needs to become my strong tower in all situations. 

Dear Jesus, help me give you what I am dealing with today and help me find my strength in you.  Amen.

A Cheerful Heart

Proverbs 17:22 "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

Solomon says happiness and cheer are good for a man.  He says it is good medicine implying that cheer may even contribute to good health.

I have lost a bit of my cheer the past few months.  I have been so stressed about moving, changing roles at work, and launching a new campus.  The stress and pressure has evaporated some of my cheer.  I feel it in my body sometimes too.  I need to get that joy and cheer back.  I need to lighten up and find joy in every circumstance, not stress or concern.  I need to find my joy in Christ and in others.  Today I am going to go cheer up with my kids!

Dear Jesus, help me find joy and happiness in you and your work.  Amen.

Wealth

Proverbs 11:4 "Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death."

Proverbs contains several themes or topics that pop up again and again.  One of these issues is that of money.  Oftentimes Solomon instructs the reader to be wise with their money and earn it honorably.  Elsewhere, as in this verse, he warns of the dangers of wealth and the emptiness of it's pursuit. 

I can't take my cash to the grave.  I can't take my house.  I can't take my clothes.  I can't even take my 08' Chevy Uplander-how sad! Well maybe not too sad about the truck!  It's so easy to focus on money and material things and Solomon had it all.  And even he says, don't focus on that stuff.  It's just stuff and in the end, it doesn't matter.  Today I will take my eyes off my stuff and checkbook and focus on Jesus.

Dear Jesus, help me focus on you and others today.  Amen.

Discipline

Proverbs 10:17 "He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray."

Solomon says discipline is so important it shows the way to life.  It doesn't just help you get a long better or become a better citizen, it actually leads to life. 

How prideful am I?  How often do I think I have all the answers or the best answers?  When was the last time I listened to some discipline in my life or received correction from someone older and wiser than me?  I want to live a life that is actually full of life.  In order to do that I need to listen to others.  Who can I listen to today?  Who has God placed around me that can encourage me, counsel me, and discipline me when need be? 

Dear Jesus, help me listen to those you have surrounded me with today. Amen.

Apple of My Eye

Proverbs 7:2 "Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye."

Solomon instructs the reader to guard his teaching and keep them the "apple of your eye."  "Apple of my eye" is a popular idiom and indicates having a strong fondness for something.  Here, wisdom and Solomon's teachings are to be the apple of one's eye.

I have had many "apples" in my life.  My wife, my children, and even my home and career have been "apples" to one degree or another.  But is God's word an apple of my eye?  Do I go on and on about it at parties and with friends?  Do I break out pictures of God's word and share stories of of how God's truth rocked my world yesterday?  Do people grow tired of me talking about God's word like they grow tired of me always telling stories about my children?  Certainly, I don't intend to annoy others with my love for God, but do I have that same passion?  Placing God's word at the center of my life needs to become the highest priority.  It needs to become the apple of my eye! 

Dear Jesus, help me read your word and meditate on it each day!  Amen.

Heart Goalie

Proverbs 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."

Solomon is discussing the merits of wisdom and knowledge and says above everything he's just said, guard your heart.  The heart is the "wellspring of life" or in the NLT, "it affects everything you do."  It appears Solomon's obsession with wisdom is intended to protect the heart.

My heart truly does affect everything I do.  The desires of my heart affect my actions. Everything begins with my heart.  Have I been guarding it well?  Like an NHL goalie protecting the net, have I been doing everything possible to keep sin, wickedness, and deceit from penetrating my heart?  What I watch, read and listen to affects my heart.  The words, images and thoughts I allow to creep into my life, affect my heart and therefore affect my actions and how I treat those around me.  I need to do a better job of guarding my heart!  I need to rely on God's truth and wisdom and allow him to guide me and protect my heart today.

Dear Jesus, please protect my heart and keep it pure.  Amen.

Indiana Jones

Proverbs 2:4-5 "...and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God."

Solomon instructs the reader to chase after wisdom and search for it a as treasure seeker hunts for treasure.  If you do so, you will eventually find wisdom and attain the knowledge of God.

Solomon tells me I should go all "Indiana Jones" on wisdom and seek her as I would seek treasure.  And from what I know from the Indiana Jones movies, Indy would become consumed with his treasure hunt and not stop until he accomplished his mission whether that was finding the holy grail, or rescuing a small village, or saving his dad.  Whatever he had to do to get what he wanted, he did. It was a passion.  Do I feel the same way about wisdom?  Do I approach the knowledge of God similarly?  I should!  Isn't the wisdom of God more valuable than silver or gold? This walk through Proverbs will be a small attempt at seeking this ever so precious treasure.  It will be my first steps on this treasure hunt.

Dear Jesus, help me seek your truth and wisdom over the next month. Teach me new things.  Amen.

Persistance

Luke 18:7 "And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?  Will he keep putting them off?"

Jesus tells a parable about a persistent widow who keeps bugging a judge to give her justice in a particular case.  Eventually the judge breaks down and awards the woman what she was after just to get her off his back!  Jesus says, how much more willingly will God our father give us what we ask for.

I oftentimes think God doesn't care or need to hear about my needs.  After all, I am a white, middle class American who owns a home, drives two cars and has 2.5 kids!  What needs do I really have?  Isn't God more concerned with the oppressed in Syria and Congo?  I have first world problems and God probably doesn't even listen to my requests and possibly they even anger him.  Seriously, I think this way a lot.  But, if I were to listen to what Jesus actually taught I would realize that maybe God does care about my needs, my fears, and my requests.  He does want to hear from me and he wants to answer them.  Today I need to boldly talk to him.

Dear Jesus, thank you for always being there fro me and for always listening.  Amen.

Jack and Ellie

Luke 8:50 "...Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed."

A man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, has a daughter who is very ill.  He came to Jesus to ask him to heal his daughter.  Upon arriving at the home, Jesus tells the family to not be afraid but instead believe.  He assures them that their daughter will be healed.

Sometimes I open God's word to read exactly what I need at the moment.  Today my kids are on their third day at a new school.  The first week hasn't been the best. Today my heart aches for my kids.  I needed to hear these words from Jesus today.  I am to not be afraid for them, but instead believe.  He will take care of them.  And honestly, that's all I can do at this point, so today I once again give my kids to Jesus.

Dear Jesus, please protect Ellie and Jack today.  Please. Amen.

Spotlight

Luke 8:16 "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed."

Jesus is speaking to his followers and tells them that they are to light up and shine for him.  They are to take the truth they know about him and spread it to the world.  He essentially says, "what good is a light if it is not shined for all to see?"

I am a good Christian.  I go to church every week, read my Bible most days, pray regularly and I know all of the books of the Bible in order by heart.  I don't have any major vices, I'm generally kind to people, I listen to Christian music and own several WWJD bracelets-ha!  But do I shine?  Do people see through the darkness because my light is shining that bright?  Do I illuminate the dark world around me?  Can others see my light and feel it's warmth?  I don't think I'm there yet.  I am like a flickering Bic lighter in a large, dark auditorium.  How can I become a spotlight that pierces the darkness and points people back to Jesus?  Today,  I need to shine!

Dear Jesus, help me shine for you today!  Amen.

Freedom Baby

Galatians 5:13 "For you have been called to live in freedom -- not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love"

At the time this letter was written, certain Jewish Christians, known as Judaizers, were intent on making sure new gentile (non-Jewish) Christians were following portions of the Jewish law.  The Judaizers believed that in order to be a true Christian, you had to still be partially Jewish and adhere to the law.  They were wrong!  Paul writes this letter to the young gentile Christians in Galatia and explains that they are to live in freedom from the law-not freedom to do as they pleased, but freedom to love one another.

Jesus has freed me from my sins so that I can serve him and love others.  In fact, Jesus took things a step farther and freed me from even having to pay for my sins, so that I can serve others.  Before Jesus came, you had to continually offer sacrifices and participate in certain rituals and traditions to solve your sin problem.  Think of all the time and energy that took!  Now, my salvation and my forgiveness come from Jesus, leaving me to focus on serving others in love.  Jesus wants me to stop focusing on my sin-he's got that-and focus instead on others.  I love that! It's a major shift from focusing on myself and my problems (pretty selfish if you think about it) and instead focusing on others and serving them!  Jesus frees us to be less self centered and more "others centered!"  It's a cool thing.  Today, I will serve others in love.  Yep, that's what I'll do 'cuz I'm free to do so!

Dear Jesus, thank you for the forgiveness and freedom you have given me.  Help me use my freedom to love others.  Amen.

Strong Foundation

Luke 6:48 "He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock..."

Jesus has been teaching the crowds and here tells a parable of two men.  One man builds his house on rock, the other man on sand.  When the storms come, one house stands and one house falls.  This is how it with those who either practice Jesus' teachings or ignore them.

I didn't have to read any further this morning.  This parable was a punch in my arm.  It seems lately, the little storms in my life, have been rattling me.  I loose sight of the fact that I need to daily be building my house on the rock.  I need to be hearing Jesus' words and acting on them. I need to keep working on that foundation so that I can better stand against the storms.  I am not about to let the storms of my life defeat me-especially my relatively small storms.  I have Jesus and that is all I need.

Dear Jesus, help me build my life on you, the rock.  Amen.

He's Got the Moves Like Jagger

Luke 4: 30 "But he walked right through through the crowd and went on his way."

Jesus has raised a ruckus in his hometown of Nazareth.  He knew he would not be accepted as the messiah there and he called them on it.  Upset, the townspeople take Jesus to a nearby cliff to toss him off.  But Jesus, with his Jedi-like powers and Jagger-like moves, walks right through the crowd and escapes!

I have often read right over this story.  It's pretty awesome.  Jesus can do anything.  I'm not feeling too deep today so what I am taking from this today is simply, there ain't anything Jesus can't handle.  So today I put my trust in him that he can handle my troubles.

Dear Jesus, thank you for being awesome!  Amen.

Eloi Eloi

Mark 15: 34 "And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani'-which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'"

Jesus has been hanging on the cross for six hours.  His only companions are two thieves on crosses of their own who mock him. In extreme agony and on the verge of death, Jesus calls out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 

I always thought this was odd.  For one, Jesus had the power to save himself if he wished.  And second, surely God had not forsaken Jesus, this was the plan-right?  However you think about it theologically, the point is, for a moment in time, Jesus himself felt he had been forsaken by God.  And we all have had that feeling at one point or another as well.  In times of illness, loneliness, failure, regret and fear I know I have at times thought God has given up on me and left. And then I feel bad about feeling that way or I question my faith.  But again, Jesus himself went through this!  He experienced this same thing.  So when I feel despair, who better to hear my prayers and my cries than Jesus?  He knows what it is like and is always there to gently whisper..."three days my son." 

Dear Jesus, be with me in my times of despair and worry.  Amen. 

Love God, Love Others

Mark 12:34 "...and from then on no one dared ask him any more questions."

A teacher of the law asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was.  Jesus answered that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.  The second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself.  After this exchange with the teacher of the law, the text tells us that "no one dared ask him any more questions."  Why didn't anyone ask Jesus any more questions?  Were they afraid?  Did they feel stupid?  Maybe it was because Jesus had just given them the answer to all answers.  Love God and love others.  What more needs to be discussed!?

I can sit around and talk theology and philosophy all day.  I love it.  I love politics, current events and sports too.  But at the end of the day, all that matters according to Jesus, is if we are loving God and loving others.  That's it.  Case closed.  No more questions.  And there are no more questions because that is the answer of all answers.  That's the meaning of life in a nutshell.  Love God, love others.  How am I doing with that today?  I know I could be more loving today. 

Dear Jesus, help me to love you and love others with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength today.  Amen.

The Heavenly Zone

Matthew 6:21 "Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be."

This passage of scripture contains some beautiful words from Jesus.  In Matthew six, Jesus tells us to not store up treasures on earth, focus on material needs, or worry about what we have and don't have.  He simply says focus our lives on heavenly things.  That's what will bring true joy. 

This was Jesus' way of saying "get in the zone."  It's true that where our treasure is, that's where we can find our hearts.  How I spend my money, where I spend my time, and the people I chose to hang  with all say something about the condition of my heart.  If I spend 10 hours a week playing fantasy football, it's clear I care a lot about that.  If I eat at Chipotle every day for lunch (and who wouldn't want to do that!) I must love Chipotle more than other restaurants.  So what do my choices say about my heart?  What are my "treasures" saying about me?  And do my treasures bring me to the "zone?"  Are my treasures, heavenly treasures?  What zone am I in?  Is it a worldly zone or a heavenly one?  Today I will seek to place my treasures in God's zone for my life.

Dear Jesus, help me forget about the worlds treasures and instead focus on your will for my life.  Amen.

If You Can

Mark 9:23 "Everything is possible for him who believes."

Jesus has been asked to cast a demon out of a boy.  The father asks Jesus to cast the demon out by saying "but if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."  Jesus replies that everything is possible for him who believes.

I wonder if Jesus was insulted by the "if you can" statement? He's Jesus after all.  He's the Son of God.  If you can?  Of course he can.  It's almost laughable.  But I catch myself thinking the same thing.  I doubt.  I have a hard time truly believing God will take care of me and provide what I need.  Jesus was clear, everything is possible for him who believes.  I need to believe today.  Today I am going to believe that we are going to move and be in our new home this fall!  It seems such a huge hill to climb and has already been expensive and exhausting, but I will believe. 

Dear Jesus, I am trusting you with this today.  Amen.

Jonah Points to Jesus

Matthew 12:40 "For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so I, the Son of Man, will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights."

Jesus is speaking to his favorite audience (the Pharisees) and is trying to point out to them how blind they are.  He tells them that their wickedness tops that of any other generation and they will surely pay the price for it.  They don't get it and they don't see that Jesus himself is the messiah-the one who was to come and save Israel and all the world.  Jesus looks back to Jonah and explains to them just as Jonah was in the belly of a fish for three days, he too will be in the "heart of the earth" or dead for three days.  Jonah was a foreshadowing of Jesus.  Everything points to Jesus!

I love how so much of the Old Testament points to Jesus.  The focal point of all history is Jesus.  Even the story of Jonah reflects Jesus.  Does my life and does my story reflect Jesus?  Am I pointing to him?  Am I telling others of his coming, his life, his death and his resurrection?  Jonah was not knowingly foreshadowing the life of Jesus perhaps, but can I?  What can I do today or say today to help others see Jesus? 

Dear Jesus, help me tell your story to others today.  Amen.

Better than Poseidon

Mark 4:39 "He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet!  Be still!' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm."

Jesus and his disciples are in a boat on the sea of Galilee.  A storm comes upon them while Jesus is sleeping in the back of the boat.  The disciples begin to freak out so they wake Jesus up.  Jesus stands up, and calmly orders the the waves to be still.  And just like that the waters became calm.

I serve a God who commands the sea-and not in the same way Poseidon does!  Jesus can take control of any circumstance at any given time.  He can even control mother earth with a word.  If he can do that, my worries and concerns and troubles are NBD!  I need to trust in Jesus in all circumstances from the little to the big.  I need to constantly remember, he controls the storms. 

Dear Jesus, help me remember daily that you are in control and there is nothing you can't handle!  Amen.

Disreptuable Sinners

Mark 2:15 "Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.  (There were many people of this kind among Jesus' followers.)

Jesus and his disciples are eating a meal at Levi's house.  Jesus is in the home of a tax collector and many other "disreputable sinners" are joining them.  This was a big no-no at the time for religious leaders.  But apparently this was commonplace for Jesus so much so that Mark tells is that many people of "this kind" followed Jesus and were part if his posse!

Jesus came for the sick, the lost, and the hurting.  I need to keep that in mind.  I sometimes find myself hanging with the nice Christian folks and I loose sight of who Jesus wants me to be hanging with.  He wants me to be with sinners. He doesn't care how it looks!  How can I be like Jesus today and hang with sinners?  Well am I at junior high camp all week...

Dear Jesus, help me hang with your crowd today.  Amen.

While the Cat's Away

Matthew 24: 42 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come."

Jesus' followers ask him about the last days.  He tells them that no one knows when this will occur or when he will return again.  He instructs them to keep watch and be prepared for that time.

Many people like to look busy when the boss is around.  When they know he is gone or on vacation they tend to relax and may not work as hard.  As the saying goes, "when the cat's away, the mice will play."  Am I too often playing thinking the cat is away?  Jesus wants me living for him regardless of whether he returns tomorrow or in a thousand years.  I certainly don't want to be like a slacker employee and be caught wasting company time when the boss returns.  How can I be productive today? How can I share the gospel today?  How can I be busy and not just look busy?

Dear Jesus, help me be busy for you today.  Amen.

Shine

Philippians 2:15 "You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them.   "

Paul writes a beautiful letter to the Christians in Philippi and here encourages them to live clean and innocent lives.  He tells them they are to stand out in a culture that was full of darkness and sin.  They are to shine brightly for Jesus in this dark world.  Their lives and actions should stick out and be very different from the world around them.

Some say the Bible is an ancient book and is out of touch with our modern day and has nothing of value for us in 2013.  I think Philippians 2:15 says otherwise.  Nearly 2,000 years after Paul wrote this letter we certainly still live in a world full of darkness.  Turn on the TV for five minutes and you quickly realize how dark this world can be.  That's not new.  That's not surprising to any of us.  The world can be a very dark place.  So Paul begs us to not join the darkness but instead let our lives "shine brightly."  I am to shine brightly for Jesus and be a contrast to the world around me.  People should see in me love, joy, peace, and hope and be attracted to that-much like a moth to a flame.  So how am I doing in the shining brightly department?  Do I shine or do I blend into the gloominess and darkness around me?  Do I attract or repel others?  Today I need to put a smile on my face, put a hop in my step and shine!  Today I need to shine for Jesus!

Dear Jesus, help me shine for you in this dark world.  Amen.

Brood of Vipers

Matthew 23:33 "You snakes! You brood of vipers!  How will you escape being condemned to hell?"

You gotta like Jesus.  In Matthew 23 he goes off on the Pharisees and religious leaders.  He calls them names like hypocrites and snakes and threatens them with hell!  He holds nothing back and let's them have it.  He calls them on their hypocrisy and false teaching.  For a moment the Birkenstock wearing, hippie Jesus takes a back seat to Mark Driscoll's UFC, kick yo @!# Jesus. 

As much fun as it is to see Jesus this way, his words are meant for me as well.  I am a "religious leader."  I teach people the ways of God.  These words of Jesus haunt me as much as they entertain me.  Am I a hypocrite?  Am I a blind guide?  Do I wash the outside of my cup but on the inside am I full of dirt and filth?  I have to daily assess myself, my motives, and my actions and completely rely on Jesus to lead me.  I pray I never hear Jesus speak to me this way. 

Dear Jesus, help me follow you closely and never end up a snake.  Amen.

A Lesson on Forgiveness

Matthew 18: 33 "Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?"

Peter asks Jesus how many times he should offer forgiveness to someone.  Peter suggests 7 times as prescribed by the Old Testament law, but Jesus tells Peter to actually forgive a person 77 times, a number which really meant a "number without a number."  Essentially Jesus tells peter to always forgive and continue forgiving.  Jesus then tells the parable of the unmerciful servant.  In the story a servant is forgiven his debts by his king, but then turns around and demands his debtors pay him back immediately.  The king finds out and punishes the man for not having mercy after he had been given so much mercy.

I have been forgiven by God. I have been forgiven over and over again.  So who am I to not forgive others?  I should always forgive, no matter what the situation. I should never hold a grudge, or be bitter or resentful.  Today I need to have a merciful and forgiving heart. 

Dear Jesus, help me forgive as you have forgiven me.  Amen.

Remember Me

Matthew 26: 26-28 "As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and asked God's blessing on it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, 'Take it and eat it, for this is my body.' And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, 'Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which seals the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many.'"

This passage records the very first communion.  Jesus takes a loaf of bread and a glass of wine and tells his followers that these elements represent his body and blood which will be shed for the sins of many.  He tells his disciples to eat this bread and drink this wine when they come together to remember his sacrifice for them.  This was to be a lasting tradition until he returns again. 

I forget things very easily.  Pin numbers, pass words, names, birthdays, and sometimes even my anniversary elude me.  That is the human condition though. We forget things all the time.  We are forgetful people.  Jesus knew this.  He knew we are prone to forget so he institutes this celebration we call communion.  He wants us to not forget about him but instead remember him and remember his sacrifice.  How can I remember him today?  How can I celebrate the day Jesus died on a cross and bore my sin and shame?  I need to remember him more often than at an occasional communion service at church once in awhile!  I daily need to think of his great love for me. 

Dear Jesus, thank you for dying in my place.  Amen.

Mountain Moving

Matthew 17: 20, 21 "He replied 'Because you have so little faith.  I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you.'"

A man came to Jesus with his sick son and asks Jesus to heal him.  The boy had a demon and Jesus heals him.  The disciples ask why they were not able to heal the boy and Jesus gives them this response.  Jesus says even a small amount of faith can do mighty things.

I wrestle with this passage so much.  It really makes me feel like a failure when I don't feel like I accomplish much.  Do I not have enough faith?  Do I not have the right kind of faith? I think maybe the problem lies in the fact that I am overly focused on my faith and my abilities or lack thereof.  The whole point Jesus is trying to make is that it is faith in him that does great things.  Instead of worrying about my faithfulness and determination, I must trust in him and his ability to do great and mighty things.  I will trust him today and expect to see mountains move.

Dear Jesus, help me to have faith and to trust you to do great things.  Amen.

A Close Heart

Matthew 15:8 "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."

Jesus quotes Isaiah and calls the Pharisees hypocrites.  He tells them that they say all the right things but their hearts are not in it and not with God.

These words of Jesus haunt me.  I often fear that my words honor Jesus but my heart does not.  Each day I want to make sure my heart is right before I even open my mouth.  Before I ever try to point someone else to Jesus I need to make sure my heart is directed towards him.  It all starts with my heart.  I can do this by daily taking the time to read his word and spend time talking with him and getting my heart right.

Dear Jesus, help me take the time to get my heart right each day.  Amen.

Open Doors

Revelation 3: 7, 8 "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the one who is holy and true. He is the one who has the key of David. He opens doors, and no one can shut them; he shuts doors, and no one can open them. 'I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can shut.'"

In John's book of Revelation, he includes individual instructions to seven churches.  In this passage he addresses the church in Philadelphia.  Philadelphia means "brotherly love" and at the time, was an important commercial city.  In this address, the Christian Philadelphians are told that God alone opens and shuts doors and in their case, God has opened a door for them that "no one can shut" including Satan himself.  This open door most likely refers to an entryway into the kingdom of God for these faithful and patient Christians.

God is in the business of opening doors.  He wants to bless me and open an opportunity for me to advance his kingdom.  Where is this open door and where does it lead?  For me right now, God is opening a door to the city of Cottage Grove.  Crossroads is launching a third campus in Cottage Grove and I believe God is specifically calling me to lead this new campus. What other doors does he have for me today?  Maybe it's a friend who needs a listening ear, or a neighbor who needs a helping hand?  These are the doors God opens most frequently.  I can only pass through theses doors if I am awake enough, and have my eyes open enough to see them.  Today I need to have my eyes wide open to see the open doors God places before me. 

Dear Jesus, help me have the vision to see your open doors and give me the faith I need to walk through them.  Amen. 

Rest

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Jesus is speaking to his followers and tells them that if they are weary and burdened they should come to him to find rest.  This may have been a contrast to the heavy and burdensome demands the Pharisees laid on the people. 

I have found myself a bit weary and burdened lately.  In fact I have not used any of my PTO this year!  That's not good.  I need to rest.  I need to find my rest in Jesus.  Today, and this week I am going to be intentional about resting.  I will take a day off and spend time alone and time with my family.  I will rest!

Dear Jesus, help me slow down and rest this week.  Amen. 

Perfection

Matthew 7:28, 29 "When he had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not ass their teachers of the law."

Jesus has just given his "Sermon on the Mount" the most famous sermon in history.  He covers such topics as murder, adultery, divorce, love for one's enemies, prayer and worry.  As he concludes the message the crowd was in awe of the things he said and were amazed at his teaching.

2,000 years later and I am still amazed at his teaching.  Here is what I am amazed at-I don't obey his teaching and I don't think I could.  The standard Jesus sets here in Matthew 5-7 is extremely high and I know of no one who actually achieves this. At one point in 5:48 Jesus says "Be perfect, therefore as your heavenly father is perfect."  Um, perfect?  Can't do it if I tried.  So what is the point?  I think Jesus sets the standard here, but also points to the fact that we cannot be perfect-but he can and was.  My hope and trust is not in my ability to do good, but in Jesus' ability to be perfect.  I trust in him not myself. 

Dear Jesus, help to me to trust you today and help me become more perfect like the father.  Amen.

Thankful for Snow

Psalm 100:5 "For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation."

The psalmist declares that the Lord is good and his unfailing love and faithfulness continue forever touching each generation.  This phrase is repeated several times throughout scripture and is somewhat of a mantra for the people of God.  God is good and loves his people.  He always loves his people and the appropriate response to this is to be glad and thankful.  Psalm 100 was written and sung precisely to give thanks to the Lord because he is good.

It's hard to actually believe God is good on May 3 when it is snowing!  His unfailing love and faithfulness are a bit cold and wet today!  The truth is God is good.  He does love me and I need to be glad about that and thank him for that.  I so often take God and the good things in my life for granted.  Today, despite the snow, I need to give thanks.  If I can't bring myself to thank him for the weather, I can thank him I am alive to see the weather!  God is good and his love for me continues forever.  That is awesome all on it's own and I am thankful for that today!

Dear Jesus, thank you for the snow.  Thank you more for your love and goodness!  Amen. 

Massacre of the Innocents

Matthew 2:16 "When Herod had realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under..."

Herod hears of the birth of the Messiah and immediately goes into action to find the baby, and destroy him.  After his plot is foiled by the Magi, he orders a mass murder of babies in Bethlehem.  This event is known today as the Massacre of the Innocents.  It is estimated the population of Bethlehem at the time was around 1000 including 20 or so boys of this age.  Although greater genocides have occurred in history, this event was still terrible; a first century Sandy Hook if you will.

Ever since Jesus came on the scene, the evil one has been trying to destroy him.  Not only has Satan been trying to destroy Jesus, he is trying to destroy all of his followers as well.  Satan is after me, just as he was after Jesus in Bethlehem.  How can I withstand his attacks?  Are there times when I need to flee to Egypt for awhile?  Who am I surrounding myself with to help in this battle? 

Dear Jesus, thank you for conquering Satan, and help me to stand up to him as well.  Amen.

Joy

Zechariah 8:19 "This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah.  Therefore love truth and peace.'"

The Israelites observed fasts in these months and all were related to some horrible or tragic event.  In the fourth, they remembered Nebuchadnezzar breaching the walls of Jerusalem, and in the seventh, they remembered Gedaliah's assassination.  God speaks through Zechariah and says one day these festivals will become happy ones for his people.

God brings joy to his people. God is all about joy. He doesn't want me to be a sad and depressed person.  He wants me to find joy, even in the darkest moments.  I need some joy today!  Winter does not want to leave, I am juggling 47 different projects at work, and the Twins are already on pace for 103 losses this season!  God wants me to see the good in all things, and the joy in all circumstances.  How can I find joy today? 

Dear Jesus, I need some joy today.  Please send it my way.  Amen.

Just Do It

Zechariah 7:9 "This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.'"

The Lord tells Zechariah that he is on to the games the Israelites have been playing.  He questions their sincerity when they fast, worship, and feast.  He sees through their empty actions and rituals.  God tells Zechariah what he is really after.  He wants his people to show true justice, mercy and compassion.

Today there is some movement taking place in which we are to put a red x on our hands to show we are fighting against slavery or something.  I'm not totally sure what it's all about.  I am often behind the eight ball with these types of things.  I hate to judge it without knowing much about it but for argument sake I'm going to.  I'm not sure how much good it does to mark our hands with a red x, or wear a certain color as in blue with autism day a few days ago.  It's great to raise awareness and all, but God wants real things to happen.  He wants me to really be just, merciful and compassionate.  He doesn't want me to just think about it, or have good intentions or wear a certain color.  I need to do actually do something today.  I need to be Zechariah 7:9.  As Nike says, I need to "just do it." 

Dear Jesus, help me to day to just do it.  Help me actually move beyond good intentions to good deeds. Show me where and how. Amen.

Watch Out

1 Peter 5:8 "Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour."

Peter warns his readers that the Devil is a very real and very dangerous enemy.  He compares the Devil to a lion prowling the earth looking for a "victim to devour."  Wow.  Peter is very descriptive and blunt.  This verse shouldn't be read to children before bedtime!  But it should be read and remembered by us.  The Devil is a lion.  Lions stalk, hunt, and attack their prey with force and violence.  There is no mercy in a lion's den.  So Peter says "Be careful!" and "watch out." 

I'll be honest.  I'm not usually on the lookout for lions.  Living in Minnesota they are not on my radar.  I'm on the lookout for spring, a good deal, and a free lunch, but not lions.  I'm also rarely ever on the lookout for the devil.  Maybe it's my 21st century self that puts the devil and demons into some rear compartment in my brain where I never think about them, but I rarely do.  Peter says I should.  According to Peter (and Jesus) the Devil is stalking me.  He's after me.  So what can I do about it?  Peter writes to "watch out."  And maybe that's the whole point?  Just watch out.  Be alert.  Be ready.  How can I be ready and watch out today?  How can I look for signs that the enemy is after me and my family?  How can I be ready to resist him today.  Is my faith strong enough to help me guard against an attack?

Dear Jesus, please defend me from the lion today.  Amen.

Cry

Psalm 18:6 "But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears."

Psalm 18 was written by David after the Lord rescued him from King Saul.  Saul had been hunting him down in an attempt to kill David.  David was literally running for his life from the most powerful man in the kingdom.  David composes and sings this beautiful song in which he claims that God heard his cries for help.

God sometimes feels far away and distant. He especially feels distant in moments of distress and pain.  I have this image of him sitting in some golden throne riding in the clouds a million miles away.  I sometimes feel like praying to him or crying out to him is of no use.  He's not listening!  He's not near! He can't hear me! But he heard David.  And if he could hear David in one of David's darkest hours, he certainly can and will hear me.  I must not be timid or shy or hesitant to call out to him.  In good times and in bad, God is listening.  And he wants me to cry to him.  He wants me to shout out to him.  He wants me to pray to him.  What do I need to cry out to him about today?  What does he need to hear from me today?  I must trust that he is there and he is listening. 

Dear Jesus, thank you for hearing me.  Amen. 

Be Strong

Haggai 2:4 "But now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest.  Be strong, all you people of the land..."

The Jews have returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.  The Lord tells them to be strong. He states it three times in this one verse.  As he told Joshua entering the promised land to be strong, he now tells these men and women to be strong.  The same God who helped Joshua will now help them.

God wants me to be strong.  Amid the stress and anxiety of everyday life I am to be strong.  When Satan and his army attack, I am to be strong.  Thankfully I do not have to be strong on my own.  My strength comes from the Lord.  My help comes from him.  I do not have to be strong on my own.  God will give me the strength I need each day.  Today, I need that strength. 

Dear Jesus, give me the strength today that you provided so long ago for God's people.  Amen.

Mighty to Save

Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save."

Zephaniah like many of his colleagues, paints a gloomy future for the world.  Complete destruction and annihilation await all of those who have turned away from God.  Yet at the end of his short, three chapter prophecy, comes a mention of hope.  A remnant will be saved.  The faithful will flourish.  And all of this is because the Lord is "mighty to save." 

I sing this song often.  Thanks to Chris Tomlin this verse is stuck in my head forever!  But do I believe it?  Do I trust that God can and will save me?  Is he really mighty?  Some days I wonder.  Today I want to be confident of this.  I want to trust that my God indeed is mighty to save.  That requires that I hand over to him all of my cares and burdens, from small to great.  Not until I do that will I begin to believe he truly is mighty to save.

Dear Jesus, please take all my cares and concerns today.  I trust them to you.  Amen.

Me and Paul

1 Timothy 1:15 "This is a true saying, and everyone should believe it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners -- and I was the worst of them all."

Paul is recounting how he once persecuted Christians, hunted them down, and had them arrested.  In certain cases, men like him had followers of Jesus killed.  Yet, Jesus saved Paul.  Jesus turned him into a new creation and completely changed his life.  Paul reflects on this and points out that this was the very reason Jesus came-"to save sinners." 

Paul says he is the worst sinner of all.  He hasn't met me!  If I'm really honest I'm just as much of a sinner as Paul.  And  yet the beautiful thing is, Jesus came and hung on a cross for Paul and for me, in spite of our sin.  In fact he did this because of our sin, and for our sin.  And if Jesus saved Paul, the "worst of them all" than he can save anybody.  His salvation is for everyone willing to hear it and accept it.  That is good news.  That is Jesus.  I must remember to tell everyone I know, no matter how sinful I think they are (and I know some good sinners!) that Jesus is for them. He loves them and he came for them. 

Dear Jesus, thank you for coming to earth for me and Paul.  Help me share your good news with someone today.  Amen.

No Place Like Home

Zephaniah 3:20 "At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home.  I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes."

Zephaniah has given his prophecy of doom and destruction for the Israelites, the Ammonites, the Assyrians and basically everyone else in the middle east!  But at the end of his book, there is this picture of hope.  In the end, God will gather his people and restore all things. 

I love how God promises he will bring them home.  There truly is no place like home.  After a long hard day, I love to go home.  I love to throw on my comfortable clothes, grab a soda from my fridge, plop down on the couch, and be with my family.  I love home.  And God has a home for me.  And one day he will bring me home.  That is not something to fear and be anxious about.  It will be a day of joy, comfort and celebration.  God's story has a great ending.  He wins. Love wins.  Justice wins.  And we get to go home!  Awesome. 

Dear Jesus, thank you for saving me.  Please help me find my hope in you.  Help me be patient for home.  Amen.

No Figs, No Problem!

Habakkuk 3:17-18 "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."

Habakkuk is told of the impending invasion of Babylon.  Life is about to get very difficult for God's people.  Yet even in the calamity Habakkuk will still rejoice in the Lord.

I am so spoiled.  One thing goes wrong and it ruins my day.  I like my nice spoiled, easy, and convenient life.  It's easy for me to praise God when things are going well.  But God wants me to praise him all the time, regardless of circumstances. He wants my heart in all seasons. God wants me to love him, trust him, and rejoice in him in feast and famine.  Today, no matter what goes well or what goes wrong, I need to rejoice in who he is and what he has already done for me. 

Dear Jesus, thank you for your blessings and goodness.  Amen.

Hunted Down

2 Corinthians 4:8-9  "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit.   We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going."

Paul writes to the followers of Jesus in Corinth and gives them a dose of reality.  He tells them that following Jesus is difficult.  They will have their hardships, persecutions and sufferings.  But, they can withstand it all because Jesus is with them.  Paul says "God never abandons us."

Life is tough.  Following Jesus can be tough.  There are days I do feel crushed, perplexed, hunted, and knocked down!  But Paul gives me this promise.  He gives us this hope.  While we are being pressed, crushed, perplexed, hunted and knocked down, we can keep going.  We will not be broken, we will not give up, and we will not quit because we have Jesus on our side.  He gives us the strength to keep going. We don't have that strength on our own but Jesus himself provides that.   Where we are weak, he is strong.  So where I am weak today? In what ways am I being pressed, crushed and hunted?  I need to give that away to Jesus today.  He can handle it.  I'll just keep going and follow him.

Dear Jesus, thank you for always being with me.  Help me keep up the good fight.  Amen.

Refuge

Nahum 1:7 "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble."

Nahum receives a prophecy regarding the city of Nineveh-the capital of Assyria.  Nahum has a warning for Nineveh but hope for Israel.  While Nineveh will crumble, God will rescue, redeem and comfort his people.  The name Nahum even means "comfort."

God is my refuge.  I love that word refuge! In times of trouble, sometimes I just want a refuge- a place and a space to get away for awhile.  A place to be safe and secure for a moment.  My refuge is not an actual place though, it's not at the casino, at a movie theater, or in a bottle.  My escape and refuge looks differently than the world's idea of refuge.  My refuge is Jesus.  He is my comfort and my security.  Today I will rest and find refuge in him.

Dear Jesus, I need you now more than ever. Be my refuge today.  Amen.

Isaiah 61

Isaiah 61:1 "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, because the LORD has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed."

God's people are about to face some very difficult times including exile to Babylon.  Isaiah writes his prophecy as a warning to them.  Around 700BC or so Isaiah pens chapter 61 and writes these words foreshadowing the "year of the Lord's favor" and the coming messiah.  Someone was going to come someday to heal the people and restore all things. In the first century, while in a synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4:18-19) Jesus quotes Isaiah and tells the people he is that person and this is why he came.  He came to bring good news to all, comfort the broken hearted, and release the captives.

I am to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  I am to continue this movement Jesus began that Isaiah eluded to.  I am to bring good news to the poor.  I am to comfort the broken hearted. I am to release those who are held captive.  Of course I can do none of this without Christ.  What he began 2,000 years ago, I am to continue with his help, guidance, and power. So who in my world needs some good news today?  I need to bring it to them.  Who in my world is broken hearted?  I should comfort them.  Who in my world need to be set free?  I should help them.  His mission is my mission. 

Dear Jesus, help me be your hands and feet today.  Amen.

Watch in Hope

Micah 7:7 "But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my savior; my God will hear me."

Micah is describing Israel's misery during God's judgement on them.  He tells the people that they should not trust their neighbors, their friends, or even their family members.  Micah then declares that God alone is who he will put his hope in.

Everything fails in the end.  Money ultimately fails.  People fail.  We fail ourselves.  The only true and trustworthy entity in the universe is God.  He is all I can have hope in.  He is the only sure thing.  Today I need to trust in his goodness and faithfulness more than ever.  I need to trust him with the little things and the big things today.  Today I will trust him with my job, my family, my home, and my bank account.  It's all his.  I will put my hope in him.

Dear Jesus, help me trust you in the big and the small.  Amen.

Obstacle

Romans 14:13 "So don't condemn each other anymore. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not put an obstacle in another Christian's path."

At first, the earliest Christians were predominately Jewish.  They maintained many of their Jewish customs, festivals, traditions, and laws.  As non-Jewish (gentile) people began to join the church, the leaders had to figure out how to navigate these two worlds.  How would Jews and Gentiles coexist?  How Jewish did the Gentiles need to be?  What elements of Judaism needed to stay and what needed to go?  In this letter to the Roman Christians, Paul instructs them to take a deep breath and not argue over the more trivial matters.  They were not to judge each other too harshly or become an "obstacle" to each other as they tried to follow Jesus.

It is so easy to judge others and point out flaws in other peoples lives.  It's particularly easy to do in church for some reason!  Paul says I am not to be an obstacle.  That's the bottom line here.  I can have my opinions and my views and when the time is right I can help others follow Jesus more closely...  but I cannot become an obstacle.  I should not get in the way of anyone attempting to follow Christ.  How have I been an obstacle lately?  Have I turned someone away from Jesus or church because of my attitude or my opinions.  Instead, I ought to do everything I can do to draw people to Jesus and his church.  How can I do that today?

Dear Jesus, help me not be an obstacle to those you love.  Help me draw more people to you.  Amen. 

M68

Micah 6:8 "He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Micah is telling the Israelites what's in store for them.  He asks them hypothetically how they are to get out of this predicament.  Should they sacrifice more animals?  Will that appease God?  Should they sacrifice their children?  Will that appease God?  Micah says no, God has already showed them what he requires of them....act justly, love mercy, walk humbly.  That's what God really wants.

At the end of the day it kind of comes down to this.  God wants me to do what is right, be merciful and loving, and be a humble person.  That is what my life should look like.  How am I doing in this area?  I'd say I am a 7 out of 10.  I guess that proves I am not humble!  I need to be humbled daily.  I need to show mercy daily.  And I need to remember to do what is right and act justly.  I can only do these things by relying on Jesus.  I can't do this on my own.

Dear Jesus, help me do what is right.  Help me be merciful.  And help me be humble.  Amen.

Jonah Needs his Pacifier

Jonah 4:11 "But Ninevah has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well.  Should I not be concerned about that great city."

Long story short, Jonah is a whiner and likes to pout.  First, he doesn't want to go to Ninevah, second he pouts when they repent, and third he whines when his precious vine withers away. He doesn't see the big picture or see what God cares most about.  Jonah makes me sick.  He also reminds me of me!

I pout, whine, and cry about the dumbest things.  Car trouble, bad weather and spilled milk cause me stress.  I rarely see things with the greatest of perspective.  I need to see life through God's lens.  I need to see the world with Jesus' eyes.  Instead of pouting, complaining, and whining, I ought to talk with him, correct my attitude, then roll up my sleeves and fix things.  How can I have a better perspective today?  How can I see the world as God sees it?

Dear Jesus, please give em your ears and your eyes today.  Help me not to be a baby like Jonah but instead see things the way you see them.  Amen.

Karma

Obadiah verse 15 "...As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head."

Obadiah is sharing a prophecy for Edom.  Edom has been a long time enemy of Israel and now Edom couldn't be happier that Israel is being destroyed and taken into captivity.  Obadiah warns them about their pride and cautions them to not get too happy about Israel's doom.  Verse 13, while not an endorsement of karma, certainly warns the Edomites that what they sow, they will reap.

There is much truth to this.  What I sow, I will reap.  What I have done, will be done to me.  How I treat people, will probably indicate how people will treat me.  This is a good lesson from Obadiah today to make sure I am careful with the things I say and do, knowing that one day, these may come back to bless me...or haunt me!  I should live every day expecting this.  So how I can be on karma's good side today!?

Dear Jesus, help me to treat others the way I would want to be treated. Remind me what I sow I will reap.  Amen.

Roaring Lion

1 Peter 5:8 " Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour."

As Peter closes his letter, he gives some parting advice to the elders and young people.  He tells them to be humble and submissive as they serve one another and serve God.  Then Peter warns them that their enemy the devil, prowls the earth like a hungry lion eager to devour them.  He challenges them to be alert and stand firm against his attacks.

We do have an enemy and he wants to destroy us.  Peter is right to warn us of this threat.  Every day Satan is trying to gain a foothold into my life.  He will use every conversation, every circumstance, and every opportunity afforded him to destroy us.  Just like a lion, he will look for the weak among the herd, then stalk and attack.  Am I on the watch for him?  Am I the weakest in the herd?  Will I allow myself to be a victim he can devour?  Thankfully, I am not on my own in this struggle.  I have some great defenses on my side including scripture, prayer, my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and of course the Holy Spirit.  I must utilize these weapons daily.  As Peter says, I must be careful and watch for his attacks.  They will come whether I like it or not.

Dear Jesus, help me withstand the attacks of the lion.  Give me the strength I need to fight back!  Amen.

Complacent

Amos 6:1 "Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come!"

In typical Old Testament style, Amos is lining up the evil doers and knocking them off one at a time like plates at a "carny" shooting gallery!  And here he warns the comfortable and complacent men of Israel that they better watch out.  Because of their complacency they will be the first to be exiled. 

I don't think God cares much about whether I am comfortable.  I think he'd rather see me uncomfortable actually. Oh but I love my comfort! I love my central AC.  I love my HDTV.  I love my high speed wireless internet.  I love my On Demand TV options.  It's actually kind of pathetic because I do love these things.  I act like I love God less.  I am the complacent in Zion.  Amos is writing to me! I need to change. 

Dear Jesus, help me not be complacent.  Help me care about what you care about.  Amen.

Slow to Anger

Joel 2:13 "...Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love..."

Joel is describing a scene of utter chaos.  A plague of locusts is destroying the land and Joel sees this as a sign of sudden doom for the people.  These locusts represent God's punishment on his people for their constant rebellion and disobedience to the Lord.  Yet here, Joel shows God's heart.  God is gracious and compassionate, and slow to anger.  Great words.

I do a lot of things that should make God angry at me.  I am sinful, prideful, lazy, and selfish!  Thank goodness he is gracious and slow to anger.  And since he has displayed such mercy with me, I ought to display that same attitude with others.  Am I slow to anger?  Am I gracious and compassionate? Today I know I need to be slow to anger and gracious with my children.  That is my job today.

Dear Jesus, thank you for your mercy.  Help me be patient and gracious with Jack and Ellie today.  Amen.

Last

Matthew 20:26, 27 "But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must become your slave. "

The mother of James and John asks Jesus if her sons can sit beside him on the throne in the coming kingdom.  Rightly, Jesus admonishes them for this request and explains that in his kingdom, whoever wants to be first must be last.  The kingdom of God is all about putting others ahead of ourselves.  It is a kingdom marked by humility.

I recently heard "humility is not thinking less of yourself, but rather thinking of yourself less."  I think about myself too much!  I need to think about myself less today and think more about others.  According to Jesus, I need to be last in line.  I need to choose to be the quietest voice in the crowd.  I need to be the last one with my hand out expecting something.  I need to be last.  That's a tall order!  But that's the kingdom of God.  How can I care for, think of, and serve others more than myself today?  How can I be last today?

Dear Jesus, help me have your eyes and your ears to care for others more than I care for myself today.  Amen.

A Wretch Like Me

Romans 5:8 "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."

Paul is describing to the Christians in Rome exactly what Christ did for us and accomplished on the cross.  God loved us so much that he sent his Son to die for us and pay the price for our sins.  Not only did he do that, but he did this before we ever loved him, before we ever repented, and before we ever asked for forgiveness!  God preemptively showed us what we mean to him.  Christ died for us while we were still sinners and separated from him.  God loves us a great deal!

God's love for me is so great!   Even in my sin and rebellion, he still loves me.  He didn't wait until I had my act together, my sins under control, or my bad habits subdued.  He died for me in spite of all that.   And he doesn't love me any more when I am good, or any less when I am bad.  He loves me because that's what he is-he is love.  He loves me because that's what he does-he loves.  Elsewhere Paul tells me that nothing can ever separate me from the love of God found in Christ. Not heights or depths or Satan himself can separate me from God's love.  That my friends is good news! So what is my response to that?  How do I apply this to my life?  I share this good news with others.  I love others today because he first loved me. 

Dear Jesus, thank you for dying for me even when I was wretch.  Thanks for loving me still even though I am a wretch.  Amen. 

Garbage

Philippians 3:8 "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with him."

In Philippi there appears there may have been some confusion about what actually saves a person, or "makes" one a Christian.  Paul explains to the Philippian believers that our salvation is a result of our relationship with Jesus Christ and not a result of our achievements, efforts, or pedigree.  Our faith is dependant solely on our right standing with Jesus and not based on our good works or accomplishments. Paul shares a list of all of his accomplishments and claims that everything he has worked for and earned is garbage.  It doesn't matter.  It's trash, no good.  All of his good deeds, Sunday School awards, and Bible trivia knowledge mean nothing compared with simply knowing Christ as Lord and Savior.

It is so easy for me to make this mistake and think my spiritual health is based upon my good deeds, hard work, and Bible knowledge!  Yes Bible reading, prayers, good deeds, and service to others are all good things Jesus wants me to do, but my sin is washed away only because of Jesus and his death on the cross.  My ticket to heaven has nothing to do with how good I think I might be, but has everything to do with Jesus and his grace.   It's really all about Jesus.  Everything.  My life, my soul, my eternity...they are all dependant on Jesus and his goodness.  I'm not the only one who gets this wrong.  There is a world out there that thinks their efforts and good will makes them right with God.  They don't get Jesus.  They don't know him.  How can I share him with someone this week? 

Dear Jesus, help me tell someone about you and your goodness today.  Amen.

Rebels

Daniel 3:18 "But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were rebels.  Stuck in exile under King Nebuchadnezzar, they are ordered to worship a golden statue.  If they do not, they will be thrown into a fiery furnace.  Directly to Neb's face, they defy him and tell him they will not worship any image of gold, and if thrown into the fire, so be it!  Neb didn't like that so much so into the fire they went, only to be rescued by an angel of God!

I love this story so much!  These three men possess a fearless attitude and stand up to the "king of kings!"  I see this same attitude throughout the story of God in people like Joshua, Daniel, and Stephen.  I desire for this kind of "so what, what are you gonna do to me, God's on my side" kind of faith.  These three men were able to stare down the great king because they knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, live or die, that their God would win in the end.  That is my hope and my promise today.  What can't I face?  What possibly could hurt me?  God is on my side!

Dear Jesus, help me have some "in your face Neb" kind of faith today!  Amen. 

God's Armor

Ephesians 6:13 "Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm."

In this passage in Ephesians six Paul reminds the Christians in Ephesus that they are at war.  They are not at war with another nation or group of people, rather they are at war against evil and Satan.  Paul instructs them to wear the proper armor one would wear into battle.  Many think Paul uses the common Roman soldier as an analogy here when he speaks of helmets, swords, and shields.  But Paul was more likely alluding to images of the coming Messiah mentioned hundreds of years earlier by Isaiah in chapters 11, 52, and 59.  The messiah would arrive wearing "righteousness as his body armor" and the "helmet of salvation."  Paul says the armor Christ was to wear is exactly how we are to arm ourselves.

Satan and his demons are big and bad.  Make no mistake about it.  And if we are following Christ in any way, they are coming after us.  We are in a spiritual war and we need to have some spiritual weapons.  Paul tells us to be like Jesus and wear the same armor Jesus would wear...the belt of truth, helmet of salvation, etc.  Satan will attack us.  He will tempt us. He will lie to us.  He will attempt to deceive us and kill us.  We are to be prepared and armed properly.  So are we?  Am I?  What have I done today to prepare myself?  Have I been using his sword and shield?  Am I relying on that?  Am I relying on God? The battle is here.  I better be prepared!

Dear Jesus, help me to arm myself and be prepared for the battle.  Give me strength to defend against the evil one today. Amen.

Someone Feeling Guilty?

2 Corinthians 7:10 "For God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation. We will never regret that kind of sorrow. But sorrow without repentance is the kind that results in death."

Paul had sent an earlier letter to the Christians in Corinth...possibly first Corinthians or another letter that we no longer have, that caused them some sorrow.  Apparently, the Corinthians were caught up in some poor behavior and Paul corrects them.  We usually don't like to be corrected! At first he wasn't sure he should send the letter, but eventually realizes it was for their own good.  However uncomfortable it may have made them feel, the result was worth it.  He concludes that sorrow and sadness can be great tools to lead us towards repentance.

Sometimes it's good to feel a little pressure.  Sometimes it's good to be bothered and troubled.  There's no greater teacher than a little adversity or pain right?  When we are bothered and troubled by our behavior we make the appropriate changes. We correct the behavior.  If I notice the scale jumped up 10 pounds since Christmas, I cut back on the sweets!  If I receive a collection call on the phone, I cut up the credit card!  If however, I ignore the pain and continue the behavior...well that Paul says leads to death.  And isn't that true?  God does not want us on a road that leads to death.  He wants us on a road that leads to him.  Today I need to pay attention to the sorrow and discomfort in my life.  What is it trying to tell me?  What is God trying to tell me today?

Dear Jesus, help me learn from the pain in my life, and seek repentance and seek you.  Amen. 

Live

Ezekiel 33:11 "...As Surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live."

In a sea of devastation and destruction, a small beacon of hope arises from the book of Ezekiel.  Ezekiel is described by God as a "watchman" to his people.  Ezekiel is to warn the people of their sins and the coming judgement.  And in the midst of this judgment God shows his heart.  He tells Ezekiel that his true aim is to see everyone turn from their wicked ways and live!

What a refreshing passage!  God wants me to live.  He does not want me to die.  He does not want me to go down a road that leads to death.  He wants to take me on a road that leads to life.  Yet so often, I turn back to my wicked ways.  God takes no pleasure in this.  He takes pleasure in life and in living.  Today I need to turn from my selfish, greedy, and wicked ways and live...for him!

Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me.  Amen.