Pass the Buck

Genesis 3:12-13 "The man replied 'It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit and I ate it.'  Then the Lord God asked the woman, 'What have you done?' 'The serpent deceived me,' she replied. 'That's why I ate it.'"

Back in the early days of poker, gamblers would keep track of who's turn it was to deal by using a knife with a buckhorn handle as a marker.  If you didn't want to deal you could refuse and "pass the buck"- that is, the buckhorn knife.  This expression evolved over time and is now used when someone wants to evade responsibility.  Adam and Eve "pass the buck" big time in Genesis 3!  God wants to know who ate the fruit and why they did it.  Adam blames Eve and even throws God himself under the bus in the process.  He tells God it was "the woman you gave me" who was to blame.  Adam acts like it's both God and Eve's fault!  Come on! And of course, Eve passes the buck and blames the snake.  No wonder they felt shame.  But human nature hasn't changed much has it?  It's sad but true.  I've passed the buck, dodged the blame, and thrown others under the bus myself.  Today I am reminded that I am responsible for my own actions.  I can't blame my wife, the snake in the garden, or God.  My garbage is my garbage and I need to clean it up.  The buck stops here!

Want

Ezekiel 16:15 "But you thought you could get along without me, so you trusted instead in your fame and beauty. You gave yourself as a prostitute to every man who came along. Your beauty was theirs for the asking!"

Over and over again, God's people turned away from God and worshipped false idols and false gods.  We do the same today.  We think we can get by on our own, with our own ideas, philosophies and beliefs so we worship created things and not the creator.  We worship money, sex, power, and our own selves.  And we do this because we think we can "get along" without God as Ezekiel says.   And we just may get along without God-for a day, or a month, or even a lifetime.  But if we don't worship God because we don't think we need him, we're missing the point.   God didn't create us just so we would need him, he created us so we would want him.  He designed us to be in a loving, honest and trusting relationship with him.  Do I want him?  Do I want more than anything else to be with God?  Or do I want and worship other things more?  How has my "wanting" been this week?    

Rest

Hebrews 4:3 "For only we who believe can enter his rest."

The author of Hebrews talks about entering a period of "rest" in chapter four.  "Only those who believe" can take advantage of this rest.  I don't think he is just talking about a day off, a nap, or literal rest.  I believe this "rest" refers to the kingdom of God and heaven-our ultimate place of rest.  Only those who believe in Jesus can enter that rest.  Others who don't believe, well, they don't get to rest, let's just say that.  I like to rest.  I think most people do.  After a long day at work, or a long week, it's nice to take a day off and kick back.  That isn't necessarily what heaven will be like, but it will be, as the author of Hebrews says, a time of rest.  I want others to enjoy that too.  How can I share the good news of Jesus today with someone so they can be assured of this rest?  What conversations do I need to have this week so my friends and family enjoy this rest? 

Social Animals

Genesis 2:18 "And the LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him.'"

Some animals prefer to be alone.  They are solitary and like to keep to themselves.  Tigers, giant pandas and Tasmanian devils are all apparently solitary creatures.  Humans are not.  We were not designed to be alone.  When we spend too much time alone we end up with crazy long beards, and make friends with volleyballs!  No, God created us to be social beings.  We are to live, work, eat, and play with others.  It's by design.  How have I been a good companion lately?  Am I doing life with others well?  Do I enjoy being with other people and do they enjoy being with me?  Today I will flex my social muscles and hang out and play with my small group! 

More than Words

Psalm 19: 3,4 "They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard.  Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world."

David is describing the wonder and beauty of the sky and heavens.  He says they display the craftsmanship and beauty of God.  And even though the sky and heavens cannot speak, they communicate a message to the whole world.  Words can only communicate so much.  In fact words often miss their mark and can fall short.  So God not only gives us his words in scripture, but he also gives us tangible proof of his power and majesty in his creation.  His creation speaks louder than words at times.  I am able to look to the heavens, hike through the forest, and walk alongside the ocean and feel and experience his majesty.  They truly speak louder than words. Today I thank God for his creation and for the beauty around me.  They are daily reminders of his strength and power. 

A Tiny Speck

Psalm 8:4 "What are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?"

David is reflecting on the beauty and wonder of the heavens and is overwhelmed.  He sees the majesty of the moon and the expanse of stars at night and asks, "Why does God even think of us or care for us?"  I have asked the same question while getting lost in a sea of stars on a beautiful summer night.  It's an honest question while lying underneath all those stars.  The milky way has a way of making you feel small and insignificant, like a tiny little speck, lost in the vastness of space.  Compared to the heavens, we are nothing.  Yet God's answer to this question is overwhelming.  God does care for us and think of us.  In fact he loves us so much he came and died for us!  As beautiful as God's creation is, he cares for and thinks most of us!  we are his prize, his grand creation, his masterpiece!  That is worth celebrating and worshiping him all the more for. 

Old School Wisdom

Proverbs 8:22 "The Lord formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else."

In Proverbs 8, Wisdom is personified.  According to the text she was created before anything else, and was present as God created the world. This reaffirms to me that there was great intention, design and yes, wisdom involved in the creation of our universe.  We are not just molecules randomly thrown together with no purpose.  What we are, and what we see around us, has order, intelligence, and purpose.  We were created for a reason and for someone!   The only response to this has to be praise!  It has to be adoration! It has to be all out worship to a loving, and wise creator who wanted to make us!  How can I praise God today?  How can I worship him and thank him? 

Good

Gen. 1:31 "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good."

 What's the point of Genesis 1?  The point is God created life and he called it good.  I skim past the "good" part too often.  Originally God created everything and it was very good.  Paradise had been established.  Clearly paradise was lost-more on that in chapter 3. For now, how can I reclaim a little bit more of paradise?  How can I make now, a little more like then? 

He Pulled a Houdini

1 Cor. 15: 20, 21 "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man." 

Death.  It has everyone's number. It comes for us all.  The billionaire and the beggar both die. There is no escaping it.  But Paul reminds us that just as Christ conquered death, so shall we!  That is not just good news, it's great news!  Jesus pulled a Houdini on death and conquered it.  And because of that fact, I get to live forever.  Thank you Jesus! 

Jake the Gong

1 Cor. 13:1 "If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging symbol."

I'm pretty sure I sound like a gong or a clanging symbol to my kids this week.  I have been short tempered with them and haven't been the nicest guy to be around.  I have no reason why nor do I have any excuses.  I need to work better at this.  I can't have my kids see me be all friendly to people at church or people I run into at the grocery store, but be short and impatient at home.  I need to show them the kind of love they deserve and truly display the kind of love I have for them. As Paul says later, "Love never fails."  I can't have it fail my kids. 

Prime Time

1 Cor. 12:4 "Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts,  but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all."

Neon Deion Sanders was the guest on Running Wild with Bear Grylls last night.  Both men are believers and at one point while traversing a cliff,  Deion begins to pray in tongues.  I don't fully understand this gift,  but I trust it comes from the same Spirit that gives me my gifts. God is the source of them all, and he uses them all for His glory His glory. Last night thousands and thousands saw the faith of two men on prime time TV! God got the glory last night!

Patience

Psalm 40:1 "I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry."

I hate waiting. Whether it's in line at the grocery store, stuck in traffic, or waiting for my house to sell (last summer), waiting stinks.  I am not a patient person.  And the last thing an impatient Christian wants to do is pray for patience because of course God answers that prayer and sends you some stuff to teach you patience-lines at the grocery store, traffic on the roads, and a house that takes months to sell!  So I don't want to pray for that. But I need that.  Today I pray that God gives me the patience I need to learn to wait patiently. 

Common Ground

1 Corinthians 9: 22 "Yes I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ."

Common ground.  It's more than a cheesy name for a Christian coffee shop. It's a bridge to meet people, and share Jesus.  Like Paul, I need to find common ground with others to share my faith.  I need to have my eyes open to see how I can talk with others and find commonality.  This isn't just to manipulate them, convert them, or put another notch in my evangelism belt.  It's truly because life is better with others and life is better with Jesus!