Monday, September 26, 2011

Week 39: Alive and Active

This week's reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): Hebrews 1-4
* Monday (the Law): Numbers 25-28
* Tuesday (history): II Chronicles 6-10
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 114-116
* Thursday (poetry): Proverbs 26-27
* Friday (prophecy): Obadiah
* Saturday (gospels): Acts 1-2

This week we start with the book of Hebrews. This probably is one of the most 'theological' books in the New Testament, and perhaps the entire Bible. There is soooo much good theology in that book about the importance of the salvation work of Jesus Christ, and how his sacrifice on the cross relates to the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament.

Our SOAP for this week is from this book, and it is hard to single out one verse...

Scripture
Hebrews 4:12-13: "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

Observation
This verse comes right after a section where the writer of Hebrews talks about the disobedience of the people of Israel in the dessert, and how we are not to follow their example of disobedience. He tells us that God's word is alive and active in our lives, if we let it... It is like a sword that sifts through our thoughts and determines which thoughts are right, and which ones are not. There is nothing we can hide before God, not even our thoughts. All is laid bare before his eyes, and we have to give an account of all of our thoughts.

Application
At first sight, this is a scary passage! God knows all our thoughts, and there is nothing we can hide from him. Like Adam and Eve, we often like to hide from God when we sin. We think He doesn't see, and we hide in the bushes when we hear him approach.

When you give it a second thought though, this passage is actually really comforting. We don't have to hide from God, and we can't even if we wanted to. For me, personally, confessing my sin is the hardest part. I'm afraid what the other person is going to say or think about me. The fact that God already knows my sin, is actually comforting, how strange that may sound. I can just freely approach Him and tell Him: "Yes, Father, I screwed up again, and You know it! Please forgive me once again..."

This passage also tells me that God's word is the plumb line that I can use to examine my thoughts. His word is alive and active, if you let it be alive and active! If you come with an open mind and heart, and ask God to reveal Himself to you through his word, He will do so! You might not like the response at first, but if you let his word be alive and active, a beautiful change is going to happen, and your life will be transformed. It says so in this passage. God's word will uncover all your 'not-so-holy' thoughts, and replace them with righteous thoughts that honor Him.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father. We thank you for your word that is alive and active, even and maybe especially today. We pray Lord that you uncover our thoughts, and lay bare all our thoughts that are not of you. Replace them with thoughts that are inspired by your Holy Spirit. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.

Have a great week, and let God's word penetrate your heart.

In Him,

Dick

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Week 38: Taking God at his Word

Here's the Bible reading for the week of September 18-24, 2011:

* Sunday (Epistles): Philemon
* Monday (Law): Numbers 21-24
* Tuesday (History): 2 Chronicles 1-5
* Wednesday (Psalms): Psalms 111-113
* Thursday (Poetry): Proverbs 25
* Friday (Prophecy): Amos 5-9
* Saturday (Gospels): John 19-21

Scripture

Numbers 22:21-31. In this passage of Scripture, Balaam's donkey sees what the prophet could not see...the Angel of the Lord with his sword drawn, ready to take Balaam's life. Balaam, not knowing that the donkey is privy to divine truth that he is not, beats the animal. Then God gave the donkey the ability to speak...and finally opened Balaam's eyes to see the angel.

Observation
This is one of the most fascinating passages in the Bible for a couple of reasons. First, it is remarkable that Balaam did not bolt off his animal when it spoke to him. Instead, Balaam entered into conversation with the donkey as though it were the most normal thing in the world. Second, it is fascinating that the Angel of the Lord met Balaam on his way to Balak, king of Moab. Why was God so angry? It is because God had already told Balaam not to go to Moab and prophesy against the Israelites (which is why Balak wanted Balaam to come!). When more prestigious leaders showed up on Balaam's front porch, he decided to inquire of the Lord a second time...even though God had already given him clear instructions not to go with Balak's men.

Application
The moral of the story is that situations may change, but the Lord's will does not. Whenever we allow the attractiveness of a certain temptation to cause us to "rethink" the morality of a given behavior...even though God has given us clear guidance in his word, we run the risk of committing the sin of Balaam. In the end, Balaam could not violate God's command not to curse the Israelites. But instead...and in order to please Balak, who had paid him a handsome sum to do his bidding...Balaam counseled Moab's king to induce the Israelites into moral compromise.

Bottom line: we can't bargain with evil. It will get the best of us every time. God's moral standards do not change...even when society's attitude toward God's decrees does.

Prayer
O Lord, please give us the faith to take you at your word. We live in a world of moral compromise. Help us to remember that neither you nor your word changes like shifting shadows. And give us the inner strength to stand with you and your ways...even when it is not popular to do so. For Jesus sake, amen!

Have a great week!

Faithfully,
Chuck

Monday, September 5, 2011

Week 36: Do not rebel against the LORD

Now that summer vacation is over, it's a good time to renew your commitment to read the Bible, and to get into the habit of having a daily Bible reading routine. This week's reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): II Timothy 3-4
* Monday (the Law): Numbers 13-16
* Tuesday (history): I Chronicles 20-24
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 105-107
* Thursday (poetry): Proverbs 22
* Friday (prophecy): Joel
* Saturday (gospels): John 13-15

This week's SOAP is from Numbers 14:

Scripture
"The land we passed through is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD." [Numbers 14:7b-9a]

Observation
This passage in the book of Numbers always strikes me. The people of Israel are on the verge of entering the Promised Land. They send out 12 explorers to explore the land. The land is good, flowing with milk and honey as the passage says. They bring back huge grapes, and a good report about the bounties of the land. But 10 of the 12 explorers also bring back a bad report about the inhabitants of the land and their fortified cities. They see 'lions and bears' on the road to the Promised Land, and they don't believe in the power of the LORD, to defeat their enemies and give them the land, even though he promised to give it to them, and despite all the miracles they have already witnessed in the desert.

Only Caleb and Joshua believe in the strength and the promises of the LORD. They plea with the people to not believe the bad report: "Do not rebel against the LORD!" But 10 against 2 is a tough situation, and the people do rebel against God. They believe the 10, and even want to stone Joshua and Caleb. Then the LORD appears in all His glory, and protects these two men who believed in Him. You have to read the remainder for yourself to see what God does, and how the story ends.

Application
We are all on our way to the Promised Land, eternity with Jesus Christ and God the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit. What do we do when we get closer to the Promised Land? (and every day we live, we get a little closer!) Do we believe and cling to God's promises, or do we rebel against God, and make it hard on ourselves and the people around us? I know for myself that there have been times I have rebelled. Or there have been times (and still are sometime), when I don't believe in the power of God, and I only see the 'perceived problems' on the way to the Promised Land: the 'fortified cities' of the enemy (the devil), and his helpers who try to keep me away from the Promised Land. When that happens, I have to realize that God is in control, that his promises will never fail, and that he has the power to bring us safely into the Promised Land, regardless of my situation.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, help me to focus on you, on your power. To not rebel against You, but to trust your promises and lean on them, day after day. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Have a great week.

Dick