This week, the reading plan is as follows:
* Sunday (epistles): II Corinthians 11-13
* Monday (the Law): Exodus 29-32
* Tuesday (history): II Samuel 20-24
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 60-62
* Thursday (poetry): Job 41-42
* Friday (prophecy): Jeremiah 42-46
* Saturday (gospels): Luke 5-6
There are many interesting passages this week, including the sinning of the Israelites with the 'golden calf' in the book of Exodus, the injustice against the Gibeonits in II Samuel 21, the last words of David in II Samuel 23, and the ending of the story of Job. This week's SOAP is from the latter passage in Job 42, where Job answers God:
Scripture
Job 42:5-6: "I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance."
Observation
In this passage, Job comes to a turning point in his life. With all the life experience he had, both the ultimate good and the ultimate bad, he still 'had only heard about God', but not seen him. What Job describes here is a 'life-changing encounter' with Almighty God. Job knew all about God. He had lived a godly life, obeying all God's commands, and living blameless in His sight and in sight of the people. Yet he had not 'experienced' God, the way he experienced him now. God had broken him, to the point of despair. When Job was at his lowest point, that's when God 'showed up', to give him a life-changing encounter that would forever change Job's view of God. That is when he says 'I had only heard about you, but now I've seen you'!
Application
What about you? Have you had your life-changing encounter with God yet? Has God allowed you to slip to the bottom of the pit, and when you got there, you found God waiting there for you to forever change your life? I have not had many of those experiences, but the ones that got close to that, I did end up at the bottom and cried out to Him in despair. And I knew God was waiting there for me. Sometimes it takes some time for God to answer, but He always does. He waits till your heart is broken, and till you realize that you need Him to heal it. When you have a broken heart like that, God always shows up to mend it. And when He does, all you can say is what Job said: "I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes."
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for showing up in our lives when we need it most: in our brokenness. Thank you Lord, for breaking us, for helping us realize that we need You in all we do. We can't do it on our own Lord. Please forgive us for the times we thought we could do it ourselves, and help us to always rely on You. We want to see you, Lord, not just 'hear about you'. In Jesus Name. Amen
It's my prayer that you will see and experience the Lord in a special way this week.
In Him,
Dick
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Week 20: Steering Clear of Jesus' Hometown
This week's reading unfolds as follows:
Sunday (Epistles): 2 Corinthians 9-10
Monday (The Law): Exodus 25-28
Tuesday (History): 2 Samuel 15-19
Wednesday (Psalms): Psalms 57-59
Thursday (Poetry): Job 39-40
Friday (Prophecy): Jeremiah 37-41
Saturday (Gospels): Luke 3-4
Scripture
While this week's readings are wide and varied, as usual, I would like to focus on one of the most interesting passages in the New Testament, taken from our reading in the Gospels.
It's Luke 4:14-30, the key statement of which is v 24: "Truly I tell you...no prophet is accepted in his hometown."
Observation
Luke's account of Jesus' visit to his hometown of Nazareth is striking for a number of reasons. The first of which is where Luke locates this in the narrative...right at the outset of Jesus' ministry...on the heels of the 40-day wilderness temptation after his baptism. Matthew and Mark, the other Gospel writers to speak of Jesus' visit to Nazareth, locate the story later on, well after he chose the 12 disciples.
Luke does this for emphasis. When Jesus began his earthly ministry after his baptism and temptation, he made a whole new start. He made a decisive break from all the people and things that his life had been bound to...which leads to the second unique characteristic of Luke's account.
Neither Matthew nor Mark include what Jesus actually taught when he visited the synagogue in Nazareth...or how his hometown Nazarenes responded.
Jesus read Isaiah 61:1-2, rolled up the scroll, handed it to the attendant, and then said, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." It was a prophecy about Jesus' ministry "to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, [and] to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Luke shows that Jesus perceived the skepticism behind their question, "Isn't this Joseph's son?" (v 22). (Matthew and Mark include more than Luke does: "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us?" And they took offense at him" [Matt. 13:55-57; Mark 6:3].)
Jesus went on to say that in Elijah's day, God showed favor to two Gentiles while withholding favor from his own people due to their unrepentant hearts.
Jesus' fellow Nazarenes were so infuriated by this comparison that they drove him out of town to the brow of a hill. They indented to kill him! But, strangely (miraculously?), Luke says, "he walked right through the crowd and went on his way" (v. 30).
Thus begins the ministry of Jesus Christ!
Application
There are more than a couple of applications we could make from this story.
Following Luke's lead, we could underscore the need to make a decisive break from our past when we take up new life in Christ. This appears to be at least one reason that Luke placed the story at the beginning of the Gospel narrative and included the details he did.
We could compare Jesus' rejection by his townsfolk to ourselves when, after embracing Jesus as our Savior, we experience the rejection of those closest to us. What was true of Jesus can be no less true for us!
We can also use this story to make the point that "those who know us best may help us least" when we attempt to make a major life change...like going back to school, taking up a new hobby, losing weight, or answering God's call to ministry.
All of these represent legitimate applications of this passage, but I would like to consider another...
Is it possible that I might become Jesus' "hometown?"
They thought they knew him...they DID know him! But they didn't know the most important things about him. And that rendered what they did know completely errant.
I know Jesus too...but do I know him as well as I think I do? How often do my assumptions about Jesus keep me from really knowing him?
When he came to set them free, they rejected him on the assumption that he simply couldn't deliver what he promised.
This reminds me of Nathanael's incredulous remark when posed with the idea that the Messiah was from Nazareth: "Can any good thing come from Nazareth?" (John 1:46).
The Hebrew word for "branch" is netzer (plural netzerim) and may have been the word from which Nazareth was derived: "branch town," "the sticks," "the boonies."
Maybe the citizens of Nazareth believed that the town's reputation was true. "Jesus is just like the rest of us...a nobody! He can't be who he says he is because...after all...he's one of us!"
How often do I unconsciously fashion Jesus into my own image? I reduce him to a friend, a celestial chum. I lose sight of his lordship, his divinity.
And whenever I get that snuggly with the Lord of the universe, I become a de facto unbeliever.
He's a buddy I confide in and occasionally consult on important decisions...but he's not "my Lord and my God."
Mind you, I would never say that Jesus is not the Lord of my life, but I end up functioning that way when I envision him as "one of my peeps."
I want constantly to bear in mind the Bible's admonition: "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire'" (Heb. 12:28-29, quoting Deut. 4:24).
Prayer
Jesus, you are my Lord and my God! You are a consuming fire!
I take off my shoes before you and feel the heat of your holy ground with my bare feet.
I fall on my face and declare, "Jesus, you're not 'mine'...I am YOURS!"
Make me the temple of your life-giving Spirit.
Let me be as close to you as is divinely and humanly possible.
But never let me become your hometown. Amen!
Have a blessed week as you read God's Word...
Faithfully,
Chuck
Sunday (Epistles): 2 Corinthians 9-10
Monday (The Law): Exodus 25-28
Tuesday (History): 2 Samuel 15-19
Wednesday (Psalms): Psalms 57-59
Thursday (Poetry): Job 39-40
Friday (Prophecy): Jeremiah 37-41
Saturday (Gospels): Luke 3-4
Scripture
While this week's readings are wide and varied, as usual, I would like to focus on one of the most interesting passages in the New Testament, taken from our reading in the Gospels.
It's Luke 4:14-30, the key statement of which is v 24: "Truly I tell you...no prophet is accepted in his hometown."
Observation
Luke's account of Jesus' visit to his hometown of Nazareth is striking for a number of reasons. The first of which is where Luke locates this in the narrative...right at the outset of Jesus' ministry...on the heels of the 40-day wilderness temptation after his baptism. Matthew and Mark, the other Gospel writers to speak of Jesus' visit to Nazareth, locate the story later on, well after he chose the 12 disciples.
Luke does this for emphasis. When Jesus began his earthly ministry after his baptism and temptation, he made a whole new start. He made a decisive break from all the people and things that his life had been bound to...which leads to the second unique characteristic of Luke's account.
Neither Matthew nor Mark include what Jesus actually taught when he visited the synagogue in Nazareth...or how his hometown Nazarenes responded.
Jesus read Isaiah 61:1-2, rolled up the scroll, handed it to the attendant, and then said, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." It was a prophecy about Jesus' ministry "to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, [and] to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Luke shows that Jesus perceived the skepticism behind their question, "Isn't this Joseph's son?" (v 22). (Matthew and Mark include more than Luke does: "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us?" And they took offense at him" [Matt. 13:55-57; Mark 6:3].)
Jesus went on to say that in Elijah's day, God showed favor to two Gentiles while withholding favor from his own people due to their unrepentant hearts.
Jesus' fellow Nazarenes were so infuriated by this comparison that they drove him out of town to the brow of a hill. They indented to kill him! But, strangely (miraculously?), Luke says, "he walked right through the crowd and went on his way" (v. 30).
Thus begins the ministry of Jesus Christ!
Application
There are more than a couple of applications we could make from this story.
Following Luke's lead, we could underscore the need to make a decisive break from our past when we take up new life in Christ. This appears to be at least one reason that Luke placed the story at the beginning of the Gospel narrative and included the details he did.
We could compare Jesus' rejection by his townsfolk to ourselves when, after embracing Jesus as our Savior, we experience the rejection of those closest to us. What was true of Jesus can be no less true for us!
We can also use this story to make the point that "those who know us best may help us least" when we attempt to make a major life change...like going back to school, taking up a new hobby, losing weight, or answering God's call to ministry.
All of these represent legitimate applications of this passage, but I would like to consider another...
Is it possible that I might become Jesus' "hometown?"
They thought they knew him...they DID know him! But they didn't know the most important things about him. And that rendered what they did know completely errant.
I know Jesus too...but do I know him as well as I think I do? How often do my assumptions about Jesus keep me from really knowing him?
When he came to set them free, they rejected him on the assumption that he simply couldn't deliver what he promised.
This reminds me of Nathanael's incredulous remark when posed with the idea that the Messiah was from Nazareth: "Can any good thing come from Nazareth?" (John 1:46).
The Hebrew word for "branch" is netzer (plural netzerim) and may have been the word from which Nazareth was derived: "branch town," "the sticks," "the boonies."
Maybe the citizens of Nazareth believed that the town's reputation was true. "Jesus is just like the rest of us...a nobody! He can't be who he says he is because...after all...he's one of us!"
How often do I unconsciously fashion Jesus into my own image? I reduce him to a friend, a celestial chum. I lose sight of his lordship, his divinity.
And whenever I get that snuggly with the Lord of the universe, I become a de facto unbeliever.
He's a buddy I confide in and occasionally consult on important decisions...but he's not "my Lord and my God."
Mind you, I would never say that Jesus is not the Lord of my life, but I end up functioning that way when I envision him as "one of my peeps."
I want constantly to bear in mind the Bible's admonition: "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire'" (Heb. 12:28-29, quoting Deut. 4:24).
Prayer
Jesus, you are my Lord and my God! You are a consuming fire!
I take off my shoes before you and feel the heat of your holy ground with my bare feet.
I fall on my face and declare, "Jesus, you're not 'mine'...I am YOURS!"
Make me the temple of your life-giving Spirit.
Let me be as close to you as is divinely and humanly possible.
But never let me become your hometown. Amen!
Have a blessed week as you read God's Word...
Faithfully,
Chuck
Monday, May 9, 2011
Week 19: Sexual Immorality
The reading for this week:
Sunday (Epistles): 2 Corinthians 6-8
Monday (The Law): Exodus 21-24
Tuesday (History): 2 Samuel 10-14
Wednesday (Psalms): Psalms 54-56
Thursday (Poetry): Job 37-38
Friday (Prophecy): Jeremiah 32-36
Saturday (Gospels): Luke 1-2
There is a lot to gather from the History part of the reading this week. The stories of David & Bathsheba as well as Amnon & Tamar are both very strong examples of what sexual immorality looks like and the pain that it causes.
David was "browsing" one day and let his eyes rest on a beautiful woman bathing in his sight (unbeknownst to her). Knowing who she was (a married woman) after inquiring of her, he sent for her, slept with her and they conceived. Through a series of bad choices, David ends up murdering Bathsheba's husband.
Amnon (David's son) fell in love with his half-sister Tamar. She was unmarried and chose to save herself for marriage (as the Law commands). Amnon faked an illness and requested of David that Tamar come to him and care for him. Tamar obeyed the king and cared for her brother. Having her all to himself, Amnon forced himself sexually upon Tamar, and despite her pleas and reasoning (even offering herself in marriage!) to stop, he raped her.
Scripture: 2 Samuel 13:15-16 "Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her "Get up and get out!" "No!" she said to him. "Sending me away would be a greater wrong than what you have already done to me."
Observation: There are just so many things wrong with this situation (and the Bathsheba situation) that it would be impossible to break down in this forum. But the focus today is on the selfishness that is sexual immorality. Both David and Amnon had a strong desire to do the wrong thing, and their wants for immediate gratification took full precedence over common sense and justice. David used his power and influence to woo Bathsheba. Amnon used deception, his familial connections and physical strength to take Tamar's innocence. Having been caught in their sins, both men resort to more vile behavior. The immediate 180 degree turn from love to hate really reflects the hearts of all who seek sexual gratification and then throw away the other person after the physical act is completed.
Application: "How dangerous is one look?" Our eyes can be deceived by what we think we know, and in many cases wanting is much more passionate and fun than having. When we look, we are only taking into consideration a very small part of a very big picture. Everyone has a story- we all have dreams, pain, experiences, hopes and more- the essence of who we are. Using people in such a narrow minded and intimate fashion for selfish purposes means short term (but false) gains for us- and intense pain for those we have used. Whether we view an image on the internet or engage in a full blown affair, the core purpose is selfish- and it can very well lead to extreme results such as the ones in these two stories.
Prayer: Father we ask for the wisdom to see your Creation as you designed it to be. What the eyes see is great as it all has been created by You, but what may be in our hearts can distort that beauty. We ask for the strength to fight the temptation of immediate gratification and the discernment to see the path we are on with regards to our actions. May the Spirit guide us back to the path that leads to You. Amen.
This week is a little more heavy than usual, but the weight of these stories as they pertain to the struggles of people today hopefully helps you as it helps me.
Have a great week and God Bless!
-Mike
Sunday (Epistles): 2 Corinthians 6-8
Monday (The Law): Exodus 21-24
Tuesday (History): 2 Samuel 10-14
Wednesday (Psalms): Psalms 54-56
Thursday (Poetry): Job 37-38
Friday (Prophecy): Jeremiah 32-36
Saturday (Gospels): Luke 1-2
There is a lot to gather from the History part of the reading this week. The stories of David & Bathsheba as well as Amnon & Tamar are both very strong examples of what sexual immorality looks like and the pain that it causes.
David was "browsing" one day and let his eyes rest on a beautiful woman bathing in his sight (unbeknownst to her). Knowing who she was (a married woman) after inquiring of her, he sent for her, slept with her and they conceived. Through a series of bad choices, David ends up murdering Bathsheba's husband.
Amnon (David's son) fell in love with his half-sister Tamar. She was unmarried and chose to save herself for marriage (as the Law commands). Amnon faked an illness and requested of David that Tamar come to him and care for him. Tamar obeyed the king and cared for her brother. Having her all to himself, Amnon forced himself sexually upon Tamar, and despite her pleas and reasoning (even offering herself in marriage!) to stop, he raped her.
Scripture: 2 Samuel 13:15-16 "Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her "Get up and get out!" "No!" she said to him. "Sending me away would be a greater wrong than what you have already done to me."
Observation: There are just so many things wrong with this situation (and the Bathsheba situation) that it would be impossible to break down in this forum. But the focus today is on the selfishness that is sexual immorality. Both David and Amnon had a strong desire to do the wrong thing, and their wants for immediate gratification took full precedence over common sense and justice. David used his power and influence to woo Bathsheba. Amnon used deception, his familial connections and physical strength to take Tamar's innocence. Having been caught in their sins, both men resort to more vile behavior. The immediate 180 degree turn from love to hate really reflects the hearts of all who seek sexual gratification and then throw away the other person after the physical act is completed.
Application: "How dangerous is one look?" Our eyes can be deceived by what we think we know, and in many cases wanting is much more passionate and fun than having. When we look, we are only taking into consideration a very small part of a very big picture. Everyone has a story- we all have dreams, pain, experiences, hopes and more- the essence of who we are. Using people in such a narrow minded and intimate fashion for selfish purposes means short term (but false) gains for us- and intense pain for those we have used. Whether we view an image on the internet or engage in a full blown affair, the core purpose is selfish- and it can very well lead to extreme results such as the ones in these two stories.
Prayer: Father we ask for the wisdom to see your Creation as you designed it to be. What the eyes see is great as it all has been created by You, but what may be in our hearts can distort that beauty. We ask for the strength to fight the temptation of immediate gratification and the discernment to see the path we are on with regards to our actions. May the Spirit guide us back to the path that leads to You. Amen.
This week is a little more heavy than usual, but the weight of these stories as they pertain to the struggles of people today hopefully helps you as it helps me.
Have a great week and God Bless!
-Mike
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Week 18: The blessing of affirmation
This week, the reading plan is as follows:
* Sunday (epistles): II Corinthians 4-5
* Monday (the Law): Exodus 17-20
* Tuesday (history): II Samuel 5-9
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 51-53
* Thursday (poetry): Job 35-36
* Friday (prophecy): Jeremiah 27-31
* Saturday (gospels): Mark 15-16
This week's S.O.A.P. is from II Samuel:
Scripture
10. And David became more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him. 11. Then King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with carpenters and stone-masons to build him a palace. Hiram also sent many cedar logs for lumber. 12. And David realized that the LORD had made him king over Israel and had made his kingdom great for the sake of his people Israel. [II Samuel 5:10-12]
Observation
We can draw several observations from this passage:
a) There is a direct connection between David becoming more and more powerful, and the LORD being with him - verse 10.
b) Because David became more powerful, other powerful people -- like king Hiram of Tyre -- connect with him, and bless him with material blessings - verse 11.
c) When David sees the material blessings, he realizes that the LORD has confirmed him as king over Israel - verse 12.
Application
Oftentimes in my own life, it takes a while for me to realize that the LORD is with me in all that I do. I'm waiting for some sort of blessing to occur, kind of as an affirmation from God that He does support what I'm doing. Even though we know the LORD is always with us, and will never leave us or forsake us because of His promises, as human beings we are sometimes uncertain, and we need affirmation and confirmation from our Heavenly Father.
The good thing is: God knows our weakness, and our desire for affirmation, and He gives it to us, just like He gave it to David. I've experienced this blessing many times myself. There have been a couple life-changing events in my life, where I was uncertain whether or not I had made the right decision. Each time, I was waiting for the LORD to bless and affirm my decision, and each He did! We have an amazing God, who affirms and blesses his children beyond measure.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank you for your blessings, and for your affirmation in times when I am uncertain. Please help me to trust you more and more, even if the affirmation comes later or in different ways I did not anticipate. I thank you for who you are and all that you do in my life. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Have a blessed week.
Dick
* Sunday (epistles): II Corinthians 4-5
* Monday (the Law): Exodus 17-20
* Tuesday (history): II Samuel 5-9
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 51-53
* Thursday (poetry): Job 35-36
* Friday (prophecy): Jeremiah 27-31
* Saturday (gospels): Mark 15-16
This week's S.O.A.P. is from II Samuel:
Scripture
10. And David became more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him. 11. Then King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with carpenters and stone-masons to build him a palace. Hiram also sent many cedar logs for lumber. 12. And David realized that the LORD had made him king over Israel and had made his kingdom great for the sake of his people Israel. [II Samuel 5:10-12]
Observation
We can draw several observations from this passage:
a) There is a direct connection between David becoming more and more powerful, and the LORD being with him - verse 10.
b) Because David became more powerful, other powerful people -- like king Hiram of Tyre -- connect with him, and bless him with material blessings - verse 11.
c) When David sees the material blessings, he realizes that the LORD has confirmed him as king over Israel - verse 12.
Application
Oftentimes in my own life, it takes a while for me to realize that the LORD is with me in all that I do. I'm waiting for some sort of blessing to occur, kind of as an affirmation from God that He does support what I'm doing. Even though we know the LORD is always with us, and will never leave us or forsake us because of His promises, as human beings we are sometimes uncertain, and we need affirmation and confirmation from our Heavenly Father.
The good thing is: God knows our weakness, and our desire for affirmation, and He gives it to us, just like He gave it to David. I've experienced this blessing many times myself. There have been a couple life-changing events in my life, where I was uncertain whether or not I had made the right decision. Each time, I was waiting for the LORD to bless and affirm my decision, and each He did! We have an amazing God, who affirms and blesses his children beyond measure.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank you for your blessings, and for your affirmation in times when I am uncertain. Please help me to trust you more and more, even if the affirmation comes later or in different ways I did not anticipate. I thank you for who you are and all that you do in my life. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Have a blessed week.
Dick
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