Psalm 118:14
14 “The LORD is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.”
Sometimes it’s fun to just play with the Bible. Sometimes God’s personality and depth is revealed in what could be considered pure coincidence. There are 1189 chapters in the Bible. There are 549 chapters from Genesis 1-Psalm 117 and 549 chapters from Psalm 119-Revelation 22. Guess this makes Psalm 118 the “middle” chapter of the Bible. Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible with only 2 verses. Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible with 176 verses. Psalm 118 has 29 verses.
Now, there is some math involved in this, but not too much. 29 divided by 2 is 14.5. We’ve all heard it said, “Let’s get to the heart of the matter.” So what is at the “heart” of what matters to God? This is what we are about to learn.
What matters to God is you! God wants you more than He wants anything else in the world or universe or whatever else is out there that He has created. He wants you so much that He was willing to allow His son to be crucified and die on a cross for your sins. He let His only son walk with us and teach us how to live, and after being the perfect example for our lives, He let Him go to the cross and become the atoning sacrifice for us all.
God gave us His Word in spoken, written, and human form. At the center of it all was God’s purpose. When He spoke to the Israelites it was to let them know that He was going to rescue them. He was their provider and He was their defender and He was their SALVATION! When He came in human form it was to demonstrate that He was the provider, He was the Healer, He was the Sacrifice, He is our SALVATION. At the very center of His written Word He has let us know; “He has become my SALVATION!” (Psalm 118:14.5)
Coincidence? I think not!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Memories
Jeremiah 31:34
34 “No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
Memories are interesting. Sometimes they are pleasant and other times they are sorrowful. We remember good times, vacations, the birth of a child with a warm heart. We remember a loved one who has passed away or moved to a far off land with fondness and adoration. We remember how someone may have hurt us in the past with a hardened heart.
Sometimes a picture, song or even a certain smell will spark a memory, but these catalysts are simply reminders to us. When we experience these sensations, it’s our own conscious choice to remember an event. Whether good or bad, it is our choice in the matter as to how much of the event we want to remember and how we want to remember it.
The word remember when used in the Bible means “to live again”, literally, to experience the past as if it were the present. Imagine if we wholeheartedly could do just that. What would our ritual communion on the first Sunday of the month be like if we experienced the last hours of Jesus’ life while we partook of the bread and drank the juice? If we lived those moments again, would we continue going through the motions? I think that we would begin to go through the emotions!
The hope that we have is that God has chosen to forgive us. Furthermore, God has made a choice not to remember our sins. He hasn’t forgotten them; God is not a senile old man. Because Jesus Christ was our sin offering, when God looks at us He sees the body of Christ and the Blood that has washed us clean. The vivid recollection of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is the only memory that God has when He looks at us.
34 “No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
Memories are interesting. Sometimes they are pleasant and other times they are sorrowful. We remember good times, vacations, the birth of a child with a warm heart. We remember a loved one who has passed away or moved to a far off land with fondness and adoration. We remember how someone may have hurt us in the past with a hardened heart.
Sometimes a picture, song or even a certain smell will spark a memory, but these catalysts are simply reminders to us. When we experience these sensations, it’s our own conscious choice to remember an event. Whether good or bad, it is our choice in the matter as to how much of the event we want to remember and how we want to remember it.
The word remember when used in the Bible means “to live again”, literally, to experience the past as if it were the present. Imagine if we wholeheartedly could do just that. What would our ritual communion on the first Sunday of the month be like if we experienced the last hours of Jesus’ life while we partook of the bread and drank the juice? If we lived those moments again, would we continue going through the motions? I think that we would begin to go through the emotions!
The hope that we have is that God has chosen to forgive us. Furthermore, God has made a choice not to remember our sins. He hasn’t forgotten them; God is not a senile old man. Because Jesus Christ was our sin offering, when God looks at us He sees the body of Christ and the Blood that has washed us clean. The vivid recollection of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is the only memory that God has when He looks at us.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Jesus and the Funky Bunch
John 13:5
5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Sometimes we just get dirty. We go to work, play with the kids, mow the lawn, and who knows what else. It’s easy to see how we could get dirty. All that tumbling around on the ground with little Johnny and the dust and mud being spit back from the mower blades seems to make quite a mess.
Have you ever considered how dirty the disciples must have been? They walked everywhere. It was hot, rainy, wet, muddy, dusty, and windy. They walked by the ocean. They walked in the hills. They walked off the beaten path and on the dusty roads. They did all of this without the luxury of showers or Axe deodorant soap! It’s surprising that the Bible didn’t refer to them all as “Jesus and the Funky Bunch”.
On the night before He died for our redemption, Jesus humbled Himself and washed His disciples’ feet. Oh, what a task it must have been. Imagine the King of Kings stooping to the floor and kneeling to wash the nasty, stinky, ugly, and worn feet of His disciples. Peter tried to stop Him, but Jesus responded interestingly. Jesus said, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.” (John 13:8) Jesus was speaking of His ultimate purpose here on earth and showing it to His posse by literally washing them clean.
The disciples, despite the fact that they walked with Jesus, still got dirty. Sound familiar? We walk with Jesus yet still we manage to get dirty. Unless we continue to let Jesus wash us clean we have no part with Him.
Jesus poured water over the disciples’ feet to wash away the dirt they had been trudging through. Jesus used His towel to wipe their feet clean and dry. The symbolism is beautiful! Jesus used His blood to wash away our sin. He used His robe of righteousness to wipe our slate clean! There were those at the cross who thought, “what is He doing? Why is He allowing this?” Jesus had answered that question too when He washed their feet. He said, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” (John 13:7)
Do you get it now?
5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Sometimes we just get dirty. We go to work, play with the kids, mow the lawn, and who knows what else. It’s easy to see how we could get dirty. All that tumbling around on the ground with little Johnny and the dust and mud being spit back from the mower blades seems to make quite a mess.
Have you ever considered how dirty the disciples must have been? They walked everywhere. It was hot, rainy, wet, muddy, dusty, and windy. They walked by the ocean. They walked in the hills. They walked off the beaten path and on the dusty roads. They did all of this without the luxury of showers or Axe deodorant soap! It’s surprising that the Bible didn’t refer to them all as “Jesus and the Funky Bunch”.
On the night before He died for our redemption, Jesus humbled Himself and washed His disciples’ feet. Oh, what a task it must have been. Imagine the King of Kings stooping to the floor and kneeling to wash the nasty, stinky, ugly, and worn feet of His disciples. Peter tried to stop Him, but Jesus responded interestingly. Jesus said, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.” (John 13:8) Jesus was speaking of His ultimate purpose here on earth and showing it to His posse by literally washing them clean.
The disciples, despite the fact that they walked with Jesus, still got dirty. Sound familiar? We walk with Jesus yet still we manage to get dirty. Unless we continue to let Jesus wash us clean we have no part with Him.
Jesus poured water over the disciples’ feet to wash away the dirt they had been trudging through. Jesus used His towel to wipe their feet clean and dry. The symbolism is beautiful! Jesus used His blood to wash away our sin. He used His robe of righteousness to wipe our slate clean! There were those at the cross who thought, “what is He doing? Why is He allowing this?” Jesus had answered that question too when He washed their feet. He said, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” (John 13:7)
Do you get it now?
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Hopeless?
Isaiah 53:5
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
I watched a disturbing story on the news this morning. It was a story about a young teen who was bullied, depressed, hurt, and sad. She was 15 years old when she hung herself this past January because her life was so hopeless. What a tragic loss. It is alleged that students in her high school bullied her to the point of suicide. Her classmate’s constant torment, ridicule, name calling, physical abuse, and social isolation ruined this young girl's heart. It destroyed her will to live.
There were indicators that something was broken in this girl’s heart long before her suicide. She had a history of taking antidepressant medications and cutting herself. Cutting is a way that people, especially teens (both male and female) attempt to cope with outside stress in their lives. It is a physical representation of their attempts to deal with depression, pain, anxiety, rage, and rejection. A steady dose of over the counter medicine and self mutilation was this young girl's only way to cope with her afflictions.
This story hit me like a ton of bricks. How alone was this poor girl? She had no one to lean on. She had no one who could take the pain away, no one to shoulder her stressful burden. She saw the only solution to be hanging herself. After trying to heal the pain and suffering on her own with cuts on her body, she decided that the only way to defeat her bullies was to hang and die!
People, Jesus knew that was the only answer we could come up with, too! We are a broken, tormented, and bullied society. The Devil is our bully. He wants to bring us down. He wants to hurt us. He wants us dead! Jesus knew that and rescued us from this bully. Jesus was scourged by the Roman soldiers. His body was lacerated; His blood was shed. When that wasn’t enough to take it all away, Jesus chose to hang himself. He didn’t use a rope, He hung on a cross. He was cut to heal our hurts. He died to defeat our bully.
There is a blessed hope for the world. His name is Jesus. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
I watched a disturbing story on the news this morning. It was a story about a young teen who was bullied, depressed, hurt, and sad. She was 15 years old when she hung herself this past January because her life was so hopeless. What a tragic loss. It is alleged that students in her high school bullied her to the point of suicide. Her classmate’s constant torment, ridicule, name calling, physical abuse, and social isolation ruined this young girl's heart. It destroyed her will to live.
There were indicators that something was broken in this girl’s heart long before her suicide. She had a history of taking antidepressant medications and cutting herself. Cutting is a way that people, especially teens (both male and female) attempt to cope with outside stress in their lives. It is a physical representation of their attempts to deal with depression, pain, anxiety, rage, and rejection. A steady dose of over the counter medicine and self mutilation was this young girl's only way to cope with her afflictions.
This story hit me like a ton of bricks. How alone was this poor girl? She had no one to lean on. She had no one who could take the pain away, no one to shoulder her stressful burden. She saw the only solution to be hanging herself. After trying to heal the pain and suffering on her own with cuts on her body, she decided that the only way to defeat her bullies was to hang and die!
People, Jesus knew that was the only answer we could come up with, too! We are a broken, tormented, and bullied society. The Devil is our bully. He wants to bring us down. He wants to hurt us. He wants us dead! Jesus knew that and rescued us from this bully. Jesus was scourged by the Roman soldiers. His body was lacerated; His blood was shed. When that wasn’t enough to take it all away, Jesus chose to hang himself. He didn’t use a rope, He hung on a cross. He was cut to heal our hurts. He died to defeat our bully.
There is a blessed hope for the world. His name is Jesus. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
No Waiting.
Luke 8:47
47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.
This woman knew the power of God. She was humble and reverent as she stood before Him. This is something that we rarely see in today’s society, but she came trembling and fell at His feet. It’s interesting that the verse doesn’t say she was fearful of Him, just that she was trembling. Why? She recognized the power of Jesus Christ as the Son of God.
Have you ever stood before an icon? Have you ever met face to face with Michael Jordan or the President? Would you be afraid of them? No, but your heart would race, your adrenaline would pump, and you would tremble with excitement. Imagine this woman, sick for years, standing before God in person and trying to “hold it together”. It would be impossible. Imagine her excitement and her joy in knowing that she had just been instantly healed. She knew that she wouldn’t suffer anymore. She would no longer be unclean according to the customs and laws of her society. She would be allowed home. She could be with her family. She would be allowed to worship again with the rest of the congregation. Her life was completely changed, in an instant, through faith.
This woman did some other things though. She testified before all of the people why she had touched Jesus and what He had done for her life. She stood up and said how she had been instantly healed. It didn’t take a day, a week, a month, a year, or a decade, she was INSTANTLY healed.
We are to live as this woman. We were all born afflicted with a terrible disease called sin. For years of our lives it caused strife, misery, and separation. It put a barrier between us and God and our ability to worship the King. Thankfully, Jesus came to heal our sin. He died on the cross, and shed His blood so that we could be restored to a right relationship, not only with Him, but with our friends and families too. All we need to do is reach out and touch Him. Have faith that He is who He says, and can do what He said. Take the healing from Him. Remember, however, to proclaim in front of all the people why you touched Him and how He INSTANTLY healed you!
47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.
This woman knew the power of God. She was humble and reverent as she stood before Him. This is something that we rarely see in today’s society, but she came trembling and fell at His feet. It’s interesting that the verse doesn’t say she was fearful of Him, just that she was trembling. Why? She recognized the power of Jesus Christ as the Son of God.
Have you ever stood before an icon? Have you ever met face to face with Michael Jordan or the President? Would you be afraid of them? No, but your heart would race, your adrenaline would pump, and you would tremble with excitement. Imagine this woman, sick for years, standing before God in person and trying to “hold it together”. It would be impossible. Imagine her excitement and her joy in knowing that she had just been instantly healed. She knew that she wouldn’t suffer anymore. She would no longer be unclean according to the customs and laws of her society. She would be allowed home. She could be with her family. She would be allowed to worship again with the rest of the congregation. Her life was completely changed, in an instant, through faith.
This woman did some other things though. She testified before all of the people why she had touched Jesus and what He had done for her life. She stood up and said how she had been instantly healed. It didn’t take a day, a week, a month, a year, or a decade, she was INSTANTLY healed.
We are to live as this woman. We were all born afflicted with a terrible disease called sin. For years of our lives it caused strife, misery, and separation. It put a barrier between us and God and our ability to worship the King. Thankfully, Jesus came to heal our sin. He died on the cross, and shed His blood so that we could be restored to a right relationship, not only with Him, but with our friends and families too. All we need to do is reach out and touch Him. Have faith that He is who He says, and can do what He said. Take the healing from Him. Remember, however, to proclaim in front of all the people why you touched Him and how He INSTANTLY healed you!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Show me the money?
2 Corinthians 9:7
7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Each morning when I wake up I have decisions to make. I have to decide to get out of bed. I have to decide to take a shower, to make breakfast, to feed the dog, and to watch tv. It’s true that on some mornings I even have to make the choice and decide to show love to my family. Some of these things I do reluctantly, some out of compulsion, but some I do with a cheerful heart.
For various reasons, it has long been misunderstood that this passage of the Bible is all about money. Nowhere in traditional translations of 2 Corinthians 9 is there any mention of money, yet our church culture associates this verse only with tithing and financial surrender. If we were to just read for once with our eyes opened, we could see the message clear as day in the printed Word.
Two thousand years ago Jesus Christ walked on the face of this earth. 100% God and 100% man, He chose to leave His throne in Heaven and rescue us. Because He was there at the formation of time, He knew exactly how He was going to redeem us. He knew of the pain, the suffering, and the humiliation that He was going to face on the cross. He knew of the rejection by His own people, yet He came. He knew that 2000 years later people would continue to see His work and still reject His Kingship.
In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed to the Father. He asked that if there were another way the cup would pass Him by, but He surrendered to the will of the Father. Jesus Christ decided in His heart to give, not reluctantly or out of compulsion, but out of love. His heart is love and His love is sacrifice. Because of His “cheerful giving” Jesus Christ has been exalted above all of creation, because God does love a cheerful giver.
Whatever you have to give, give it all as if you’re giving it to God. Your gifts are for the glorification of God. Give cheerfully of your talent, time, spirit, and knowledge to the people around you so that they might see the ultimate seed that Christ sowed on the Cross through your witness.
7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Each morning when I wake up I have decisions to make. I have to decide to get out of bed. I have to decide to take a shower, to make breakfast, to feed the dog, and to watch tv. It’s true that on some mornings I even have to make the choice and decide to show love to my family. Some of these things I do reluctantly, some out of compulsion, but some I do with a cheerful heart.
For various reasons, it has long been misunderstood that this passage of the Bible is all about money. Nowhere in traditional translations of 2 Corinthians 9 is there any mention of money, yet our church culture associates this verse only with tithing and financial surrender. If we were to just read for once with our eyes opened, we could see the message clear as day in the printed Word.
Two thousand years ago Jesus Christ walked on the face of this earth. 100% God and 100% man, He chose to leave His throne in Heaven and rescue us. Because He was there at the formation of time, He knew exactly how He was going to redeem us. He knew of the pain, the suffering, and the humiliation that He was going to face on the cross. He knew of the rejection by His own people, yet He came. He knew that 2000 years later people would continue to see His work and still reject His Kingship.
In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed to the Father. He asked that if there were another way the cup would pass Him by, but He surrendered to the will of the Father. Jesus Christ decided in His heart to give, not reluctantly or out of compulsion, but out of love. His heart is love and His love is sacrifice. Because of His “cheerful giving” Jesus Christ has been exalted above all of creation, because God does love a cheerful giver.
Whatever you have to give, give it all as if you’re giving it to God. Your gifts are for the glorification of God. Give cheerfully of your talent, time, spirit, and knowledge to the people around you so that they might see the ultimate seed that Christ sowed on the Cross through your witness.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Block Head!
John 4:14
14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
So there I was tonight feasting on a sodium-laden wealth of General Tso’s chicken and crab rangoons at the Chinese buffet when I started thinking about salt. What are all of the uses of salt? What are all the different kinds of salt? There’s table salt, Kosher salt, iodized salt, sea salt, and a variety of others. Salt comes in different colors. There are pink salts, grey salts, white salts, and yellow salts. There are different purposes for different salts and different times that each salt is to be used. Salt adds flavor, it cleans and sanitizes, it deters pests, and it kills weeds, but the one thing that I want to focus on about salt is that it creates thirst.
Farmers have been aware of the thirst-creating and health necessities of salt for years. They put salt blocks in their fields for their animals to consume. It’s a way of ensuring that the flock or herd will be healthy and will drink enough water to remain alive! These blocks are set out and the animals come to them. They congregate around this salt block taking turns licking it. They are unable to bite chunks off it, though. These animals would like to take a bite of the block, but too much of a good thing would hurt them. They can just get enough to create a thirst for water. Sometimes these animals aren’t even aware that they need to drink. This salt reminds them of their need for life-sustaining water.
We are told by Christ in Matthew 5:13 that we are the salt of the earth. What is our job then? We are to be the go-to salt blocks. We have been placed here among people who may not even realize that they need water. We are to be like a block, set firm in our faith and grounded in what we believe. We are to attract people to us, not scare them away. We are to allow them to take from us, but we are to withhold what could be damaging to them. We are to create in them a thirst for Jesus Christ, the Living Water. Everything that we do, whether singing songs, selling cars, arresting criminals, or teaching school, is to enhance for others the flavor of life. Everything that we do on this planet is to glorify God and create a thirst in others to taste the Living Water.
I’ve been called a block-head before; never have I considered it a compliment until tonight.
14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
So there I was tonight feasting on a sodium-laden wealth of General Tso’s chicken and crab rangoons at the Chinese buffet when I started thinking about salt. What are all of the uses of salt? What are all the different kinds of salt? There’s table salt, Kosher salt, iodized salt, sea salt, and a variety of others. Salt comes in different colors. There are pink salts, grey salts, white salts, and yellow salts. There are different purposes for different salts and different times that each salt is to be used. Salt adds flavor, it cleans and sanitizes, it deters pests, and it kills weeds, but the one thing that I want to focus on about salt is that it creates thirst.
Farmers have been aware of the thirst-creating and health necessities of salt for years. They put salt blocks in their fields for their animals to consume. It’s a way of ensuring that the flock or herd will be healthy and will drink enough water to remain alive! These blocks are set out and the animals come to them. They congregate around this salt block taking turns licking it. They are unable to bite chunks off it, though. These animals would like to take a bite of the block, but too much of a good thing would hurt them. They can just get enough to create a thirst for water. Sometimes these animals aren’t even aware that they need to drink. This salt reminds them of their need for life-sustaining water.
We are told by Christ in Matthew 5:13 that we are the salt of the earth. What is our job then? We are to be the go-to salt blocks. We have been placed here among people who may not even realize that they need water. We are to be like a block, set firm in our faith and grounded in what we believe. We are to attract people to us, not scare them away. We are to allow them to take from us, but we are to withhold what could be damaging to them. We are to create in them a thirst for Jesus Christ, the Living Water. Everything that we do, whether singing songs, selling cars, arresting criminals, or teaching school, is to enhance for others the flavor of life. Everything that we do on this planet is to glorify God and create a thirst in others to taste the Living Water.
I’ve been called a block-head before; never have I considered it a compliment until tonight.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
"Hey neighbor!"
Luke 10:35 (New Living Translation)
35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’
I’m sure that we’ve all heard the story of the Good Samaritan. We’ve all been told that it was a parable that Jesus used to teach about how to love your neighbor and who your neighbor really is. This story has so much more to offer than just a simple dissertation about caring for your neighbor. This short 5 verse story sums up all of creation, the fall of man, and the redemption story of Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the Good Samaritan. We are the man who has been robbed! We have been robbed through the deception of the Devil and his minions. Through our desire to be like God, we have been stripped of our priestly robes and left naked and exposed before a mighty and awesome God. The Devil has taken what God gave to us! Thankfully, God has always had a plan for redemption and sent Jesus to fix our broken, beaten, naked state! Jesus came like the Samaritan man, saw a need, shouldered our burdens and paid our debts.
Jesus did all of that and left us with a blessed hope. He left with a promise of return and until his return He promised a Comforter. Jesus didn’t leave without first making sure that someone would look after us. This good Samaritan man left specific instructions for the innkeeper that the beaten man was to be fed, healed, and provided for until his return. He made sure to pay enough for the man’s needs and promised to cover any additional charges when he got back. Jesus Christ did the same for you and I. He has picked us up, shouldered our cross, and paid for our clean up. He has given us an Inn Keeper in the Holy Spirit to feed us, heal us, and provide for us until His return. He has assured us that if we run the tab back up (so to speak); He’ll cover that bill too.
The work of Christ on the cross was more than enough to cover our transgressions. It was more than enough to pay our debt. It was an act of love for His neighbors. Isn’t it nice to know that we are God’s neighbors.
35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’
I’m sure that we’ve all heard the story of the Good Samaritan. We’ve all been told that it was a parable that Jesus used to teach about how to love your neighbor and who your neighbor really is. This story has so much more to offer than just a simple dissertation about caring for your neighbor. This short 5 verse story sums up all of creation, the fall of man, and the redemption story of Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the Good Samaritan. We are the man who has been robbed! We have been robbed through the deception of the Devil and his minions. Through our desire to be like God, we have been stripped of our priestly robes and left naked and exposed before a mighty and awesome God. The Devil has taken what God gave to us! Thankfully, God has always had a plan for redemption and sent Jesus to fix our broken, beaten, naked state! Jesus came like the Samaritan man, saw a need, shouldered our burdens and paid our debts.
Jesus did all of that and left us with a blessed hope. He left with a promise of return and until his return He promised a Comforter. Jesus didn’t leave without first making sure that someone would look after us. This good Samaritan man left specific instructions for the innkeeper that the beaten man was to be fed, healed, and provided for until his return. He made sure to pay enough for the man’s needs and promised to cover any additional charges when he got back. Jesus Christ did the same for you and I. He has picked us up, shouldered our cross, and paid for our clean up. He has given us an Inn Keeper in the Holy Spirit to feed us, heal us, and provide for us until His return. He has assured us that if we run the tab back up (so to speak); He’ll cover that bill too.
The work of Christ on the cross was more than enough to cover our transgressions. It was more than enough to pay our debt. It was an act of love for His neighbors. Isn’t it nice to know that we are God’s neighbors.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Shadows
John 8:12 (New International Version)
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Have you ever been out walking in the sun or even just standing, for that matter, on a bright sunny day in the middle of the summer? There is just something nice about walking into the sun, isn’t there? It’s warming. It’s peaceful. It’s refreshing. Did you ever look behind you while you were walking toward the sun? Depending on the time of day, I’m sure that you noticed a shadow on the ground behind you. It may have been a long shadow that stretched out far behind you or it may have been a short shadow right up on top of you. Either way, it was following you wherever you went! On a certain day of the year, however, at a certain time, there will be no shadow.
Jesus is the Son. He said, “I am the light of the world....” As we become Christians, we begin our journey toward the Son. The ultimate goal of every true believer is to be Christ-like. So we begin our journey. In the past is a shadow of the man or woman we used to be. That shadow represents the sins of our past. If you’ve ever been out in the sun walking with a child or friend behind you, they can get caught up in your shadow. You have the ability to block the light from getting to them! Our spiritual lives mimic this unique event. The sins of the past are spread out behind us as we walk toward the Light of Christ. We must ensure that we don’t allow our children or friends to walk in our spiritual shadow. We must make every conscious effort to bring them around and allow them to walk in the Light alongside us!
As we draw closer to Christ through our relational walk, our love for Him will help us stop leaving a sin shadow behind us. In the world as we walk toward the sun, it also rises above us eventually to the noon hour. At that moment, we cast no shadow. We bask in the fullness of the sun on all sides and there is no shadow. Likewise, in our spiritual walk as we draw closer to Christ, He continues to rise up and have more and more influence in our lives. We continue to lift Him up and walk under His grace. The closer we get, the greater He becomes and our spiritual shadow dwindles. Someday, the Son will return. When He does we will have reached the noon hour. We will be without a shadow.
The great thing about all of this is that as long as we are walking toward the Son, He is always in front of us. Our shadow is always behind us. Our sins are forgiven the minute we accept Christ’s grace, but their shadow still lingers. Christ no longer sees those sins because He is in front of us. He has put that sin behind us. By the Son casting His revealing light into our lives, we can see where and how we are or were casting a shadow onto others around us. Forgiveness, repentance, and making amends will help the people that we have sinned against in the past come out from our shadow and walk in the full light of Christ, the SON!
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Have you ever been out walking in the sun or even just standing, for that matter, on a bright sunny day in the middle of the summer? There is just something nice about walking into the sun, isn’t there? It’s warming. It’s peaceful. It’s refreshing. Did you ever look behind you while you were walking toward the sun? Depending on the time of day, I’m sure that you noticed a shadow on the ground behind you. It may have been a long shadow that stretched out far behind you or it may have been a short shadow right up on top of you. Either way, it was following you wherever you went! On a certain day of the year, however, at a certain time, there will be no shadow.
Jesus is the Son. He said, “I am the light of the world....” As we become Christians, we begin our journey toward the Son. The ultimate goal of every true believer is to be Christ-like. So we begin our journey. In the past is a shadow of the man or woman we used to be. That shadow represents the sins of our past. If you’ve ever been out in the sun walking with a child or friend behind you, they can get caught up in your shadow. You have the ability to block the light from getting to them! Our spiritual lives mimic this unique event. The sins of the past are spread out behind us as we walk toward the Light of Christ. We must ensure that we don’t allow our children or friends to walk in our spiritual shadow. We must make every conscious effort to bring them around and allow them to walk in the Light alongside us!
As we draw closer to Christ through our relational walk, our love for Him will help us stop leaving a sin shadow behind us. In the world as we walk toward the sun, it also rises above us eventually to the noon hour. At that moment, we cast no shadow. We bask in the fullness of the sun on all sides and there is no shadow. Likewise, in our spiritual walk as we draw closer to Christ, He continues to rise up and have more and more influence in our lives. We continue to lift Him up and walk under His grace. The closer we get, the greater He becomes and our spiritual shadow dwindles. Someday, the Son will return. When He does we will have reached the noon hour. We will be without a shadow.
The great thing about all of this is that as long as we are walking toward the Son, He is always in front of us. Our shadow is always behind us. Our sins are forgiven the minute we accept Christ’s grace, but their shadow still lingers. Christ no longer sees those sins because He is in front of us. He has put that sin behind us. By the Son casting His revealing light into our lives, we can see where and how we are or were casting a shadow onto others around us. Forgiveness, repentance, and making amends will help the people that we have sinned against in the past come out from our shadow and walk in the full light of Christ, the SON!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Double or nothin'
Exodus 22:9 (New Living Translation)
9 “Suppose there is a dispute between two people who both claim to own a particular ox, donkey, sheep, article of clothing, or any lost property. Both parties must come before God, and the person whom God declares guilty must pay double compensation to the other.”
How true are the laws of the Bible? I like to think that they are all true and held with integrity and perfection. This is a law about stolen or found property. Basically, when two parties claim to own the same property, they are to bring their dispute before God. Whomever God condemns is required to pay back to the other twice as much. This is simply beautiful for those of us who are in Christ.
About 5000 years ago the Devil, Satan, The Accuser of the Brethren, went before God with a challenge. He told God that the ONLY reason Job loved Him was because of the riches that God had bestowed upon him. He suggested that if everything was taken away from Job, he would curse God. So God allowed Satan to take (steal) anything from Job, with the exception of his life. The story reads like a country western song! Job lost his family, his wealth, his friends, and his health. Job didn’t curse his God, though.
In the end, God restores what had been taken (wrongfully) from Job. (“In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!” Job 42:10) The Devil took what didn’t belong to him and God knew it all along. The Bible gives credit (as it should) to God for restoring what was taken from Job, but I believe that God caused the Devil to have to pay back double what he stole. The Lord is just, the Lord is integrity. His word stands and is perfect.
Jesus went to the cross to pay our sin debt so that we can stand before God with a clean and clear heart. We are made righteous in His blood. We are His, and there is NO condemnation for those who belong to Christ. (Romans 8:1) When the Devil stands before God and says, “This is mine”, it is your RIGHT to face the Creator and say, “It is mine.” God will decide. Whom the Lord condemns must pay back double! Take back your health, your family, and everything else that the Devil has stolen! Tell God, “This is mine!” and receive a double portion!
9 “Suppose there is a dispute between two people who both claim to own a particular ox, donkey, sheep, article of clothing, or any lost property. Both parties must come before God, and the person whom God declares guilty must pay double compensation to the other.”
How true are the laws of the Bible? I like to think that they are all true and held with integrity and perfection. This is a law about stolen or found property. Basically, when two parties claim to own the same property, they are to bring their dispute before God. Whomever God condemns is required to pay back to the other twice as much. This is simply beautiful for those of us who are in Christ.
About 5000 years ago the Devil, Satan, The Accuser of the Brethren, went before God with a challenge. He told God that the ONLY reason Job loved Him was because of the riches that God had bestowed upon him. He suggested that if everything was taken away from Job, he would curse God. So God allowed Satan to take (steal) anything from Job, with the exception of his life. The story reads like a country western song! Job lost his family, his wealth, his friends, and his health. Job didn’t curse his God, though.
In the end, God restores what had been taken (wrongfully) from Job. (“In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!” Job 42:10) The Devil took what didn’t belong to him and God knew it all along. The Bible gives credit (as it should) to God for restoring what was taken from Job, but I believe that God caused the Devil to have to pay back double what he stole. The Lord is just, the Lord is integrity. His word stands and is perfect.
Jesus went to the cross to pay our sin debt so that we can stand before God with a clean and clear heart. We are made righteous in His blood. We are His, and there is NO condemnation for those who belong to Christ. (Romans 8:1) When the Devil stands before God and says, “This is mine”, it is your RIGHT to face the Creator and say, “It is mine.” God will decide. Whom the Lord condemns must pay back double! Take back your health, your family, and everything else that the Devil has stolen! Tell God, “This is mine!” and receive a double portion!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Happy Birthday
Job 1:5
5 “When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, ‘Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’ This was Job's regular custom.”
Job was a man of God. The Bible says he was “blameless” before the Lord. Job was a family man. He had a wife, seven sons, and three daughters. Job was a rich man. The Bible tells us he had thousands of animals and servants. It is believed that Job’s family started the tradition of celebrating birthdays. Each year his sons would get together and take turns holding feasts in their homes. They would invite the entire family over to have a great celebration. They would eat and drink, celebrating life together as a family.
I’m sure that Job was proud of his family, but he knew that like him, they were only human. He realized that for all of the good that they had done throughout the year, somewhere along the way they had probably sinned. Job, the loving father, didn’t assume they had done this with a malicious spirit, but that they had just done it. So each time they gathered together as a family, Job planned to sanctify them. He rose early in the morning, probably before everyone else, and went out to make a sacrifice to God on their behalf. This was a regular custom for him.
Oh, how we have a Father in Heaven who is just like Job! Our Father, God, is the richest in all the universe! He loves us and is concerned for us. He knows that we have sinned, perhaps unintentionally, and He wanted to sanctify us through His sacrifice. Just like Job, God doesn’t need to go to each one of us and ask what we have done. He doesn’t need to rub it in our faces that we have fallen short. He just took it upon Himself to rise and say, “My children have sinned, I will be the sacrifice for them.”
On the night Jesus was betrayed, He sat with His disciples for the Passover Feast. This was an annual celebration of the liberation of God’s people from the clutches of Pharaoh. On that night however, Jesus knew that there would be a different kind of liberation to come. A freedom from the oppression of Satan and the disease of sin! Jesus knew in taking the cross that, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) but maybe He was thinking, “all have sinned and will sin and fall short of the glory of God.” Jesus sacrificed Himself to sanctify those who came before Him, those who were there with Him, and those who had not even been born yet.
Happy Birthday!
5 “When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, ‘Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’ This was Job's regular custom.”
Job was a man of God. The Bible says he was “blameless” before the Lord. Job was a family man. He had a wife, seven sons, and three daughters. Job was a rich man. The Bible tells us he had thousands of animals and servants. It is believed that Job’s family started the tradition of celebrating birthdays. Each year his sons would get together and take turns holding feasts in their homes. They would invite the entire family over to have a great celebration. They would eat and drink, celebrating life together as a family.
I’m sure that Job was proud of his family, but he knew that like him, they were only human. He realized that for all of the good that they had done throughout the year, somewhere along the way they had probably sinned. Job, the loving father, didn’t assume they had done this with a malicious spirit, but that they had just done it. So each time they gathered together as a family, Job planned to sanctify them. He rose early in the morning, probably before everyone else, and went out to make a sacrifice to God on their behalf. This was a regular custom for him.
Oh, how we have a Father in Heaven who is just like Job! Our Father, God, is the richest in all the universe! He loves us and is concerned for us. He knows that we have sinned, perhaps unintentionally, and He wanted to sanctify us through His sacrifice. Just like Job, God doesn’t need to go to each one of us and ask what we have done. He doesn’t need to rub it in our faces that we have fallen short. He just took it upon Himself to rise and say, “My children have sinned, I will be the sacrifice for them.”
On the night Jesus was betrayed, He sat with His disciples for the Passover Feast. This was an annual celebration of the liberation of God’s people from the clutches of Pharaoh. On that night however, Jesus knew that there would be a different kind of liberation to come. A freedom from the oppression of Satan and the disease of sin! Jesus knew in taking the cross that, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) but maybe He was thinking, “all have sinned and will sin and fall short of the glory of God.” Jesus sacrificed Himself to sanctify those who came before Him, those who were there with Him, and those who had not even been born yet.
Happy Birthday!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Sifted
Leviticus 2:1
“When someone brings a grain offering to the LORD, his offering is to be of fine flour. He is to pour oil on it, put incense on it.”
What is fine flour? Fine flour is an ultra-refined pure form of flour. It is sifted and ground and most of all, dirt free. This fine flour is used in making the most elegant of cakes and pastries today, but was used by the Hebrew people to make the showbread for God. This bread was to be the most holy of the offerings.
When fine flour is made, it goes through a purifying process. The wheat is harvested and set in groupings according to its value and content. The wheat must then go through a cleaning process, by which the impurities are removed. It is washed, sifted, and scraped clean. After all of that, the wheat is ready to be made into fine flour. It is taken (traditionally) and placed between two stones. The stones are then moved back and forth, twisted around, and manipulated in order to grind the wheat into fine flour.
Jesus, our showbread of life, was made from fine flour. He was selected and set apart for His content. (Matthew 3:17) He was anointed and covered in oil and perfume. (Mark 14:8) He bore our sins and was scourged by the Romans. Our dirt was literally scraped off of Him! He was tested by the Pharisees according to the Law. Those 2 big STONE tablets that Moses carried down the mountain were used to grind on Jesus. The Pharisees manipulated the law in order to trick Jesus. Because He was perfect, though, they only helped to reveal His holiness. Finally, when all of the trials and purification were complete, the fine flour was offered up on the Cross as a pleasing sacrifice to God. (Isaiah 53:10)
When Jesus went to the Cross for us, He became our fine flour; our grain offering to the Lord. Jesus became the showbread and is the Most Holy of all of the sacrifices. In Leviticus the only people who could could consume the bread were the priests. We are all priests now (1 Peter 2:9) and we can all eat this Most Holy offering.
“When someone brings a grain offering to the LORD, his offering is to be of fine flour. He is to pour oil on it, put incense on it.”
What is fine flour? Fine flour is an ultra-refined pure form of flour. It is sifted and ground and most of all, dirt free. This fine flour is used in making the most elegant of cakes and pastries today, but was used by the Hebrew people to make the showbread for God. This bread was to be the most holy of the offerings.
When fine flour is made, it goes through a purifying process. The wheat is harvested and set in groupings according to its value and content. The wheat must then go through a cleaning process, by which the impurities are removed. It is washed, sifted, and scraped clean. After all of that, the wheat is ready to be made into fine flour. It is taken (traditionally) and placed between two stones. The stones are then moved back and forth, twisted around, and manipulated in order to grind the wheat into fine flour.
Jesus, our showbread of life, was made from fine flour. He was selected and set apart for His content. (Matthew 3:17) He was anointed and covered in oil and perfume. (Mark 14:8) He bore our sins and was scourged by the Romans. Our dirt was literally scraped off of Him! He was tested by the Pharisees according to the Law. Those 2 big STONE tablets that Moses carried down the mountain were used to grind on Jesus. The Pharisees manipulated the law in order to trick Jesus. Because He was perfect, though, they only helped to reveal His holiness. Finally, when all of the trials and purification were complete, the fine flour was offered up on the Cross as a pleasing sacrifice to God. (Isaiah 53:10)
When Jesus went to the Cross for us, He became our fine flour; our grain offering to the Lord. Jesus became the showbread and is the Most Holy of all of the sacrifices. In Leviticus the only people who could could consume the bread were the priests. We are all priests now (1 Peter 2:9) and we can all eat this Most Holy offering.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Let the Water flow!
Exodus 14:28
“28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.”
The story of the Nation of Israel coming out of Egypt and Pharaoh’s oppression of God’s people is probably one of the best known and most told accounts from the Bible. From the 10 plagues that the Lord rained down, to the Passover feast and the crossing of the Red Sea, it’s quite a story of God’s power, might, and bend towards rescue.
As the Hebrew people reached the Red Sea, they looked back and saw the Egyptian army chasing after them. They saw their tormentors and oppressors giving chase and feared that soon they would be captive again. Despite all that God had done for them, they were afraid of what was coming behind them. The people cried out to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die? We would have been better off in Egypt!” Moses, hearing this, said some powerful words, words that even today we should live by. “Do not be afraid! Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you. The Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still!” (Exodus 14:13) Then the Lord spoke to Moses and told him what He was going to do.
We all know the story. Moses held up his staff as God had commanded and the sea parted. The nation of Israel crossed over on dry land while God, clothed in a cloud of darkness, withdrew behind the people to restrain the Egyptian army. After all of Israel was across the sea, God allowed the Egyptian army to attempt passage. As they entered, He let loose the waters and destroyed them!
What a powerful tale of God’s love for His people. A story that reflects perfectly the picture of Jesus’ redemption for us on the Cross. Like the nation of Israel, we have been held in bondage by sin. Whether it’s addictions, anger, sexual temptation, or idolatry, we have all been held captive and tormented. But because of His sacrifice on the Cross, we have been set free. The Living Water that is Jesus was parted for us so that we could cross on dry land. On Calvary He became the Red Sea. He stretched out His hands and revealed all of who He was. Then He cried out, “It is finished!” The tormentor that chases us, the sin that plagues us, was washed away, covered by the Blood of Christ. The Living Water swallowed up our oppressor so that we could live!
“28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.”
The story of the Nation of Israel coming out of Egypt and Pharaoh’s oppression of God’s people is probably one of the best known and most told accounts from the Bible. From the 10 plagues that the Lord rained down, to the Passover feast and the crossing of the Red Sea, it’s quite a story of God’s power, might, and bend towards rescue.
As the Hebrew people reached the Red Sea, they looked back and saw the Egyptian army chasing after them. They saw their tormentors and oppressors giving chase and feared that soon they would be captive again. Despite all that God had done for them, they were afraid of what was coming behind them. The people cried out to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die? We would have been better off in Egypt!” Moses, hearing this, said some powerful words, words that even today we should live by. “Do not be afraid! Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you. The Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still!” (Exodus 14:13) Then the Lord spoke to Moses and told him what He was going to do.
We all know the story. Moses held up his staff as God had commanded and the sea parted. The nation of Israel crossed over on dry land while God, clothed in a cloud of darkness, withdrew behind the people to restrain the Egyptian army. After all of Israel was across the sea, God allowed the Egyptian army to attempt passage. As they entered, He let loose the waters and destroyed them!
What a powerful tale of God’s love for His people. A story that reflects perfectly the picture of Jesus’ redemption for us on the Cross. Like the nation of Israel, we have been held in bondage by sin. Whether it’s addictions, anger, sexual temptation, or idolatry, we have all been held captive and tormented. But because of His sacrifice on the Cross, we have been set free. The Living Water that is Jesus was parted for us so that we could cross on dry land. On Calvary He became the Red Sea. He stretched out His hands and revealed all of who He was. Then He cried out, “It is finished!” The tormentor that chases us, the sin that plagues us, was washed away, covered by the Blood of Christ. The Living Water swallowed up our oppressor so that we could live!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)