Monday, July 25, 2011

Week 30: The Very Word of God

This week the reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): I Thessalonians 1-3
* Monday (the Law): Leviticus 19-21
* Tuesday (history): II Kings 16-20
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 87-89
* Thursday (poetry): Proverbs 13
* Friday (prophecy): Ezekiel 37-42
* Saturday (gospels): Luke 23-24

Our SOAP scripture this week is from the letter of Paul, Silas & Timothy to the church in Thessalonica:

Scripture
"You accepted what we said as the very word of God -- which, of course, it was. And this word continues to work in you who believe." [I Thessalonians 1:13b]

Observation
The Thessalonians listened to Paul, Silas and Timothy as if they listened to God. They accepted their words as if they came from God himself. Paul affirms that indeed these words are from God himself (note the use of the words 'of course'). This is not arrogance on Paul's side, but rather confidence, see also verse 4: "For we speak as messengers who have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News."

Application
This is a great example for us. We have to ask ourselves: "do we accept the things that our leaders/pastors say as if they speak words that are the very word of God?" Oftentimes we are skeptical and criticize the words we hear. If we don't like what we hear, we reject the words spoken, and sometimes even the one who speaks. This should not be so. Our pastor, for example, also is a "messenger approved by God", and the words he speaks are words of God himself.

The Thessalonians believed, and they accepted the words spoken to them by ordinary man as words from God himself. As a result, the word continued to work in them. We, who believe, should use these believers from the 1st century as an example for our own life. When we do, God's word will continue to work in us as well. Through the interpretation of the Holy Spirit, we can apply every message to our own life, and use it to grow closer into the image of God's Son.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive us for the times we criticized those who spoke your very words. Help us to discern your word in the words spoken by our leaders, and help us to follow in your footsteps. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Have a great week.

Dick

Monday, July 18, 2011

Week 29: Heavenly Minded...Earthly Good!

This week's Bible reading unfolds like this:

Sunday (Epistles): Colossians 3-4
Monday (Law): Leviticus 16-18
Tuesday (History): 2 Kings 11-15
Wednesday (Psalms): Psalms 84-86
Thursday (Poetry): Proverbs 11-12
Friday (Prophecy): Ezekiel 31-36
Saturday (Gospels): Luke 21-22

Scripture
In Colossians 3:1-4, Paul writes, "Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory."

Observation
In a number of Christian circles these days there's a lot of to-do about the need for Christ-followers to focus more on issues of social justice than on the hope of heaven. They sometimes refer to the remark that Oliver Wendell Holmes made more than a century ago: "Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good."

This passage, however, suggests that if we are not heavenly minded enough, we are no earthly good at all.

The problem is this: when we make any earthly thing the center of our lives and the primary goal of our existence, we lose sight of One who is the very reason for our existence. There are many good and noble causes that we can pursue. And it may be that Jesus Christ wants us to take up some of these. But if we end up serving the cause, we end up serving the wrong master.

When Jesus came to earth, he did not serve the world on behalf of the Father...for that would have made the world his master. Paul elsewhere reminds us that we become slaves of whatever we choose to obey (Rom. 6:16). And Jesus declares that we cannot serve more than one master (Matt. 6:24).

Jesus engaged in acts of service to the world, but every time he did so it was to serve the Father. Jesus made this abundantly clear in John 5:30: "I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will." In other words, Jesus didn't serve the world on behalf of the Father, he served the Father on behalf of the world.

Jesus was effective in carrying out his earthly ministry precisely because he was so heavenly minded...and Paul in Colossians 3 bids us to do likewise.

Application
I get to do a lot of good things as a follower of Jesus Christ. In fact, I get a lot of personal satisfaction from these activities. But I've discovered, mostly in retrospect after I've hit the wall of burnout, that when I lower my gaze onto the good things themselves...and take my eyes off the One for whom I do all these things...I lose my way.

This passage reminds me that I NEED to be heavenly minded. My spiritual survival depends on it!

Prayer
O Lord, this week as I spend time communing with you in your word, help me to set my sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at your right hand. Help me to do a better job thinking more about the things of heaven than the things of earth. Help me live into the truth that in Christ I died to this life, and that my life is now hidden with Christ...in you! And help me lay claim to the hope that when Christ is revealed to the whole world, we who are his in this life will share in all his glory forever. For Jesus' sake...amen!

Let's be heavenly minded so that we can be earthly good!

Faithfully,
Chuck

Monday, July 11, 2011

Week 28: The Spiritual Battle

The reading plan for this week:

Sunday (Epistles): Colossians 1-2
Monday (Law): Leviticus 13-15
Tuesday (History): 2 Kings 6-10
Wednesday (Psalms): Psalms 81-83
Thursday (Poetry): Proverbs 10
Friday (Prophecy): Ezekiel 25-30
Saturday (Gospels): Luke 19-20

Scripture: 2 Kings 6:8-22

Observation: The prophet Elisha is surrounded by an Aramean force set to capture him and deliver him to the king of Aram. Elisha's servant is panicked at the sight of this force and begs Elisha for his advice. Elisha calmly replies "Don't be afraid" and prays that the servant's eyes are opened to the reality that exists around them. The servant's eyes behold an army of horses and chariots of fire surrounding them. Through more prayer, the Aramean force is crippled and captured and delivered to the king of Israel.

Application: When it comes to picking and choosing the battles I fight, most of the time I tend to rely on my own abilities to wages these battles (whether I am right or wrong in these battles). I tend to go it alone many times in work and even in leading my family. This story reminds me that I am not alone in my struggles- if I wish to ask for help, an army stands ready to assist; and most likely is engaged in battle when I am least likely aware of it. The key here is to not be afraid and to lean on God for assistance and trust Him that he is in control and he stands ready for the times I am willing to ask for His help.

Prayer: Lord, I sincerely need your help- I cannot do it all on my own and only You can assist me in my fight against the Evil One. Please open my eyes to the reality of Your existence in this world and that I am not alone- and therefore do not need to go it alone. Please guide my steps as I walk with you each day so that I may not only walk the narrow path, but also lead my family and others under my influence along that same path. Thank you for always being there. In Your Name, Amen.

Have a great week!

-Mike

Monday, July 4, 2011

Week 27: Holy Fire

This week's reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday (epistles): Philippians 3-4
* Monday (the Law): Leviticus 10-12
* Tuesday (history): II Kings 1-5
* Wednesday (psalms): Psalms 78-80
* Thursday (poetry): Proverbs 8-9
* Friday (prophecy): Ezekiel 19-24
* Saturday (gospels): Luke 17-18

In many of this week's passage, we see 'fire' play some sort of role. In Leviticus 10 we read the sad story of Nadab and Abihu, 2 of Aarons sons who offered 'unauthorized' fire before the LORD. As a result, fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them. You may wonder why this harsh punishment? Moses gives the answer in verse 3: the punishment was that severe to prove God's holiness. See, Aaron and his sons were being dedicated to become priests, role models, who show God's people what is right and what not. By going off on their own and not following the LORD's instructions, they set a bad example, and God does not tolerate that at such a critical moment in the history of his people.

In II Kings we see Elijah taken up to heaven by a chariot of fire and horses of fire. Fire in this story also represents 'holiness'. Elijah does not die, but is taken up to Heaven, just like Enoch, who 'walked with God', see Genesis 5:24. Elisha takes over Elijah's duties, and we see his first miracles in those first chapters of II Kings.

In Psalm 78, Asaph recounts the mighty deeds of God. In verse 14 he talks about God guiding his people with the cloud by day, and with light from the fire all night. God showed himself as a pillar of fire to his people.

In chapter 17 of Luke, we see Jesus talking about the coming of the Son of Man. He compares his second coming with the situation of the flood, and the situation in Sodom and Gomorra, where sulphur and fire rained down from heaven unexpectedly. Just like the flood destroyed the world in the ancient days, so a fire will destroy and cleanse the world when Jesus will return. Although not mentioned explicitly in the chapters in Ezekiel, we see God's wrath on the wickedness of Jerusalem displayed in great detail. From other parts, we know Jerusalem will later be destroyed by fire.

In all these stories, we see the importance of fire: it cleanses and purifies, it brings punishment and judgment, and most importantly, it displays the holiness of our LORD.

At Woodhaven, we sing this song 'Holy Fire', which goes like this:

Holy Fire, burn away
my desire, for anything
that is not of You, but is of me
I want more of You, and less of me

Empty me, Empty me
Fill me, with You, with You.

That is my prayer this week for you, that you will be filled with Holy Fire from God, to carry out and display His passion for you and for his people. A fire that cleanses you from within, and spills over into the world.

In Him,

Dick