This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place. Jeremiah 22:3
Observations: What the Lord says to His people through Jeremiah reveals their attitude toward the less fortunate around them. And if, beginning from the top of their leadership structure on down to the grassroots, they will begin to treat “the least of these” in their midst with justice and do what’s right, the LORD will once again bless them. But, if they refuse, “this palace will become a ruin” (v.5). Unfortunately, that’s what happened.
Application: For years, many evangelical churches have neglected “social” ministry. In my experience, the primary reason was rooted in not wanting to be labeled as those who have watered down the gospel (preached a “social gospel” as we’d say). However, in the last several months, the LORD has been developing in me a healthy view of “both/and” instead of “either/or.” “The kingdom of God is God’s total answer for man’s total need” (E. Stanley Jones). Jesus life modeled the focus verse above. There was no compromise in His method and nothing diluted about His message. He was God’s total answer for man’s total need personified. If I will live by the fullness of the principles of the kingdom of God, I will experience the fullness myself. If I lead HCBC to live by the fullness of the kingdom, we’ll experience it as a church family and be effective at extending His kingdom to all people in our sphere of influence.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, may Your kingdom come and Your will be done in me and in Leander as it is in heaven. Give me my daily bread to get it done. Help me forgive. Keep me from temptations, especially those that fuel pride. Deliver me from the schemes of the Evil One. Teach me that You’re my total answer for my total need.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Run, Peter! Run!: from 8.18.08
If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?
Jeremiah 12:5
Observation: Jeremiah, like so many of us, had some questions about how God was doing things. Specifically, he questioned God’s justice (12:1). How could He allow the wicked and faithless to go on prospering and living in ease? God’s answer reminds Jeremiah that the ways of God are often too high above us to fully comprehend. If he has trouble with the ordinary ways we understand God, how will he handle the higher truths about His character?
Application: Do I really want a God who can be fully explained by me? Wouldn’t that make Him too much like me? There’s some frustration, to be sure, but the farther along on the journey I go, the more I’m appreciating and worshiping the magnificence of my great God. The mystery of His ways are to be celebrated. A good spiritual exercise program will help me “keep up” with Him better, but I’ll never catch Him and for sure never pass Him. And I’m good with that.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that Your ways are so much higher than mine; that I serve a great, great God who is beyond my comprehension, yet makes Himself known to me in ways I’m able to understand and bear. Continue to give me the energy to workout spiritually. Increase my spiritual stamina so I can keep up with You better. At least never lose sight of You.
Jeremiah 12:5
Observation: Jeremiah, like so many of us, had some questions about how God was doing things. Specifically, he questioned God’s justice (12:1). How could He allow the wicked and faithless to go on prospering and living in ease? God’s answer reminds Jeremiah that the ways of God are often too high above us to fully comprehend. If he has trouble with the ordinary ways we understand God, how will he handle the higher truths about His character?
Application: Do I really want a God who can be fully explained by me? Wouldn’t that make Him too much like me? There’s some frustration, to be sure, but the farther along on the journey I go, the more I’m appreciating and worshiping the magnificence of my great God. The mystery of His ways are to be celebrated. A good spiritual exercise program will help me “keep up” with Him better, but I’ll never catch Him and for sure never pass Him. And I’m good with that.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that Your ways are so much higher than mine; that I serve a great, great God who is beyond my comprehension, yet makes Himself known to me in ways I’m able to understand and bear. Continue to give me the energy to workout spiritually. Increase my spiritual stamina so I can keep up with You better. At least never lose sight of You.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Drink Deeply: from 8.10.08
My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. Jeremiah 2:13
Observations: Jeremiah begins his preaching to the people of Jerusalem by laying out the charges God has against them. Their actions can be summarized as prideful rebellion, as a self-confident ignoring of God’s past provision and protection which demonstrated His great love for the people He had chosen and set apart to be His own. It’s the classic, “I’m-smarter-than-God, I’m-my-own-god” thinking and living.
Application: My Heavenly Father is “the spring of living water.” Fresh and new, clean and pure characterize how He refreshes me day by day as we interact together. Why, then, would I ever want to dig a cistern to hold water, allowing it to become stagnate and polluted? Why would I leave an unending supply of living water and put my hopes for a quenched thirst in some stagnate holding tank that I know will crack and leak its inferior product over time? I know this: each day I make a decision which direction I will turn for life. I’ll either turn to God or from God. The one day I turn from Him sets my path away from Him and makes walking against His way that much easier and tempting tomorrow. I must awake and turn to Him anew each day.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, remind me of the foolish choice and its consequences for those who’ve gone before me. I don’t want to repeat their patterns. Cause me to drink deeply from “the spring of living water” daily, even several times a day. May my love for You today seem immature tomorrow because of the growth that comes from today’s pursuit of You.
Observations: Jeremiah begins his preaching to the people of Jerusalem by laying out the charges God has against them. Their actions can be summarized as prideful rebellion, as a self-confident ignoring of God’s past provision and protection which demonstrated His great love for the people He had chosen and set apart to be His own. It’s the classic, “I’m-smarter-than-God, I’m-my-own-god” thinking and living.
Application: My Heavenly Father is “the spring of living water.” Fresh and new, clean and pure characterize how He refreshes me day by day as we interact together. Why, then, would I ever want to dig a cistern to hold water, allowing it to become stagnate and polluted? Why would I leave an unending supply of living water and put my hopes for a quenched thirst in some stagnate holding tank that I know will crack and leak its inferior product over time? I know this: each day I make a decision which direction I will turn for life. I’ll either turn to God or from God. The one day I turn from Him sets my path away from Him and makes walking against His way that much easier and tempting tomorrow. I must awake and turn to Him anew each day.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, remind me of the foolish choice and its consequences for those who’ve gone before me. I don’t want to repeat their patterns. Cause me to drink deeply from “the spring of living water” daily, even several times a day. May my love for You today seem immature tomorrow because of the growth that comes from today’s pursuit of You.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Power Corrupts: from 8.2.08
The LORD afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, and he lived in a separate house. 2 Kings 15:5a
Observations: A fuller account of Azariah’s (Uzziah) affliction with leprosy is found in 2 Chronicles 26:16-21. In short, “after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to His downfall” (2 Chron. 26:16a). He assumed a role reserved only for the priests and in the midst of burning incense on the altar, he was struck with leprosy. From that day on, he was sent to live in a separate house and relieved of his responsibilities as king. His son, Jotham, took charge of the palace and the governing of the people of Judah.
Application: What shall I say about power and pride that hasn’t already been said? So often, power or prestige or even great respect leads to pride. And pride leads to downfall. While I can think of many illustrations of this, the worst move I can make is to think of those “other people” and not focus exclusively on myself. While I may not be as powerful a person as many others, I’ve been entrusted a group of people, many of whom respect my leadership. And that’s enough power to produce pride; enough pride to cause my downfall and the suffering of many.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach me to be like Jesus when it comes to dealing with power and pride: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant” (Philippians 2:6-7). Make me like the humble Jesus who used power for You and others, not Himself.
Observations: A fuller account of Azariah’s (Uzziah) affliction with leprosy is found in 2 Chronicles 26:16-21. In short, “after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to His downfall” (2 Chron. 26:16a). He assumed a role reserved only for the priests and in the midst of burning incense on the altar, he was struck with leprosy. From that day on, he was sent to live in a separate house and relieved of his responsibilities as king. His son, Jotham, took charge of the palace and the governing of the people of Judah.
Application: What shall I say about power and pride that hasn’t already been said? So often, power or prestige or even great respect leads to pride. And pride leads to downfall. While I can think of many illustrations of this, the worst move I can make is to think of those “other people” and not focus exclusively on myself. While I may not be as powerful a person as many others, I’ve been entrusted a group of people, many of whom respect my leadership. And that’s enough power to produce pride; enough pride to cause my downfall and the suffering of many.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach me to be like Jesus when it comes to dealing with power and pride: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant” (Philippians 2:6-7). Make me like the humble Jesus who used power for You and others, not Himself.
Monday, August 4, 2008
The Difference-Maker: from 7.29.08
Now bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. She said to her mistress, "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy." 2 Kings 5:2-3
Observations: “Now Naaman was commander (v.1)…Now…a young girl…served Naaman’s wife…[and] said….” The story is so often told of Naaman being cured of his leprosy, but who hears of this young girl who is the LORD’s representative; whose own personal tragedy of being taken from her family, tribe and country, made a way for God’s hand to work through her. In the midst of great people and great places, this young girl (with two strikes against her: young, girl—make that three strikes: slave) is the difference-maker. Not powerful Naaman. Not even the prophet Elisha. This young slave girl, whose name we’ll never know. Without her, this story never happens!
Application: Who are the difference-makers? I think to make a difference I need to be some hybrid of Naaman and Elisha, some super soldier/saint with power and prophetic influence. But all I really need to be is God’s representative in the settings He places me, even if at times I don’t see how He could ever be behind my circumstances. I need more of the courage, confidence and awareness of this young slave girl.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for this example! How powerful a life is this!? Would you make me like her: courageous, confident, and aware of the opportunities around me to exalt Your power and greatness!? Keep this story ever before me. Help me to be a difference-maker and to exalt the difference-makers around me.
Observations: “Now Naaman was commander (v.1)…Now…a young girl…served Naaman’s wife…[and] said….” The story is so often told of Naaman being cured of his leprosy, but who hears of this young girl who is the LORD’s representative; whose own personal tragedy of being taken from her family, tribe and country, made a way for God’s hand to work through her. In the midst of great people and great places, this young girl (with two strikes against her: young, girl—make that three strikes: slave) is the difference-maker. Not powerful Naaman. Not even the prophet Elisha. This young slave girl, whose name we’ll never know. Without her, this story never happens!
Application: Who are the difference-makers? I think to make a difference I need to be some hybrid of Naaman and Elisha, some super soldier/saint with power and prophetic influence. But all I really need to be is God’s representative in the settings He places me, even if at times I don’t see how He could ever be behind my circumstances. I need more of the courage, confidence and awareness of this young slave girl.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for this example! How powerful a life is this!? Would you make me like her: courageous, confident, and aware of the opportunities around me to exalt Your power and greatness!? Keep this story ever before me. Help me to be a difference-maker and to exalt the difference-makers around me.
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