Sunday, April 29, 2012

Week 18: Self-control like Jesus

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday: Judges 9:22-10:18; Luke 24:13-53; Psalm 100:1-5; Proverbs 14:11-12
* Monday: Judges 11:1-12:15; John 1:1-28; Psalm 101:1-8; Proverbs 14:13-14
* Tuesday: Judges 13:1-14:20; John 1:29-51; Psalm 102:1-28; Proverbs 14:15-16
* Wednesday: Judges 15:1-16:31; John 2:1-25; Psalm 103:1-22; Proverbs 14:17-19
* Thursday: Judges 17:1-18:31; John 3:1-21; Psalm 104:1-23; Proverbs 14:20-21
* Friday: Judges 19:1-20:48; John 3:22-4:3; Psalm 104:24-35; Proverbs 14:22-24
* Saturday: Judges 21:1-Ruth 1:22; John 4:4-42; Psalm 105:1-15; Proverbs 14:25

Our SOAP verse is from Psalm 91. It's actually from last week's reading plan, but it's an insight that I thought was rather interestng:

Scripture: Psalm 91:11-13
9 If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, 10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling. 11 For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go. 12 They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone. 13 You will trample down lions and poisonous snakes; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! 14 The LORD says, "I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. 15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them.

Observation
During Jesus' temptation in the dessert, the Devil used verses 11 & 12 of this Psalm to test Jesus, see Matthew 4:6 and Luke 4:9-11. Jesus answers the Devil by saying: "The Scriptures also say, 'Do not test the Lord your God.'". What fascinates me is that Jesus does not quote verse 13 of this Psalm, the next verse after the verses that the Devil uses. Jesus could have said something like: "You are right that this Psalm talks about me, Satan. Do you also know what the next verse in that Psalm says? It says that that I will trample you, and crush you under my feet!!" Jesus could have said that, because this verse is almost a direct reference to Genesis 3 verse 15, where God says to the snake (the Devil):

15 "From now on, you and the woman will be enemies, and your offspring and her offspring will be enemies. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

Instead, Jesus shows a lot of self-control, and does not even go there. Maybe the Devil even wanted Jesus to go there, so that the conversation would have ended up in a back-and-forth shouting match. No, instead, Jesus shows self-control, and does not rely on his own power. He relies on God by saying that you should not test the LORD your God.

Application
Jesus' composure is a great example for me in the area of self-control. I have to learn to not use "my power" or always try to be right in my own eyes. Instead, I have to learn to rely on God, and His power, just like Jesus did.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I pray that you help me to maintain self-control in the most difficult circumstances, just like your Son Jesus showed us. In his name we pray. Amen.
Have a great week. Dick

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Week 17: Stone-deaf? Not this stone!

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:

* Sunday: Joshua 24:1-33; Luke 21:1-28; Psalm 89:38-52; Proverbs 13:20-23
* Monday: Judges 1:1-2:9; Luke 21:29-22:13; Psalm 90:1-91:16; Proverbs 13:24-25
* Tuesday: Judges 2:10-3:31; Luke 22:14-34; Psalm 92:1-93:5; Proverbs 14:1-2
* Wednesday: Judges 4:1-5:31; Luke 22:35-53; Psalm 94:1-23; Proverbs 14:3-4
* Thursday: Judges 6; Luke 22:54-23:12; Psalm 95 & 96; Proverbs 14:5-6
* Friday: Judges 7:1-8:17; Luke 23:13-43; Psalm 97 & 98; Proverbs 14:7-8
* Saturday: Judges 8:18-9:21; Luke 23:44-24:12; Psalm 99; Proverbs 14:9-10

Scripture: Joshua 24:26-27
Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. As a reminder of their agreement, he took a huge stone and rolled it beneath the oak tree beside the Tabernacle of the LORD. Joshua said to all the
people, "This stone has heard everything the LORD said to us. It will be a witness to testify against you if you go back on your word to God."


Observation
These verses occur in the last chapter of the book of Joshua. Some observations that struck me are:

* First, Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. In other words, Joshua "edited" (or added to, rather) the Book of the Law of God. We know and generally accept that the Book of the Law of God is mostly written by Moses (the Torah = the 5 books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). But we also know that Moses could not have written the account of his own death in Deuteronomy 34. It made me wonder in the past who would have "edited" those books, and it appears that Joshua would be at least one of them. This makes perfect sense of course, since he was Moses' successor, and was probably the one closest to Moses during the latter part of Moses' life on earth.

* Secondly, Joshua uses a very large stone as a witness, and he goes as far as to say that "this stone has heard everything the LORD said to us". At first sight, this is rather strange. Obviously, the stone has no ears, nor is there any life in this stone. Joshua, of course, knows this very well himself. But he also knows the power of symbols to remind us, and to remind God of things that were said and promised.

The things that were said and promised were extremely serious. In response to Joshua's famous words "... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD", the people respond in verse 21: "No, we are determined to serve the LORD", upon which Joshua responds in verse 22: "You are accountable for this decision." The people agree they are accountable, so Joshua makes a covenant with the people, committing them to a permanent and binding contract between themselves and the LORD (v25).

As a symbol of that covenant, Joshua places a huge bolder next to the Tabernacle of the LORD. When the people see that stone, they are reminded of the covenant. If they break the covenant (and they did), the stone still served as a reminder, especially when God disciplined them. The next time they would show up at the Tabernacle, the stone would still be there.

Application
We have many symbols that remind us of the covenant we have entered into with the LORD. The most powerful symbol is the LORD's Supper that we celebrate regularly. These symbols remind us of the covenant the LORD has made with us. This is a covenant of unfailing love, as you can read about in your reading of Psalm 89:14 Your throne is founded on two strong pillars--righteousness and justice. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants.

And later in that Psalm:
30 But if his sons forsake my law and fail to walk in my ways, 31 if they do not obey my decrees and fail to keep my commands, 32 then I will punish their sin with the rod, and their disobedience with beating. 33 But I will never stop loving him, nor let my promise to him fail. 34 No, I will not break my covenant; I will not take back a single word I said.

God will not break his covenant and never stop loving us, even if at times we stray. What an awesome God!!

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for your covenant with us, that you gave your one and only Son to pay the price that we had to pay. Thank you for the powerful symbols you gave us that remind us of that sacrifice, so we may never forget. We love you and we worship you. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Have a great week.

In Him,

Dick

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Week 16: Expecting the Unexpected...when we Least Expect it!

This week, the Bible reading plan is as follows:

*Sunday: Joshua 11:1-12:24; Luke 17:11-37; Psalm 84:1-12; Proverbs 13:5-6
*Monday: Joshua 13:1-14:15; Luke 18:1-17; Psalm 85:1-13; Proverbs 13:7-8
*Tuesday: Joshua 15:1-63; Luke 18:18-43; Psalm 86:1-17; Proverbs 13:9-10
*Wednesday: Joshua 16:1-18:28; Luke 19:1-27; Psalm 87:1-7; Proverbs 13:11
*Thursday: Joshua 19:1-20:9; Luke 19:28-48; Psalm 88:1-18; Proverbs 13:12-14
*Friday: Joshua 21:1-22:20; Luke 20:1-26; Psalm 89:1-13; Proverbs 13:15-16
*Saturday: Joshua 22:21-23:16; Luke 20:27-47; Psalm 89:14-37; Proverbs 13:17-19


Scripture: Luke 17:28-37
"One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, 'When will the Kingdom of God come?
"Jesus replied, 'The Kingdom of God can't be detected by visible signs. You won't be able to say, "Here it is!" or "It’s over there!" For the Kingdom of God is already among you.'
"Then he said to his disciples, 'The time is coming when you will long to see the day when the Son of Man returns, but you won't see it. People will tell you, "Look, there is the Son of Man," or "Here he is," but don't go out and follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so it will be on the day when the Son of Man comes. But first the Son of Man must suffer terribly and be rejected by this generation.
"'When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah's day. In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all.
'"And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building—until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. Yes, it will be "business as usual" right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed. On that day a person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. A person out in the field must not return home. Remember what happened to Lot's wife! If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it. That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.'
"'Where will this happen, Lord?' the disciples asked.
"Jesus replied, 'Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.'"

Observation:
I made a connection today that I don't think I’ve ever made in the past. (At least I don't remember making this connection!) There is a marked difference between how Luke frames Jesus' teaching about the Second Coming and the so-called parallels in the Gospels of Matthew (Matthew 24) and Mark (Mark 13). Both Matthew and Mark include references to the Temple in Jerusalem and other details that don't really have to do with Jesus' return, like how bad it will be for pregnant women and how they should pray that their flight doesn't happen in the winter or on the Sabbath. In both Matthew and Mark, the discussion starts with the disciples' marveling about the magnificence of the temple and its large (seemingly indestructible) stones. In Luke, the conversation starts when a Pharisee asks Jesus when the Kingdom of God will come.

The bottom line is this:

Both Matthew and Mark treat two instances of divine judgment at the same time: (1) the destruction of Jerusalem (and its Temple), which ended up happening in AD 70, and (2) the Second Coming at the end of time as we know it. It is not unusual for the inspired writers of Scripture to telescope "in-time" judgments with the ultimate "end-time" judgment. And so it is in Matthew and Mark's Gospels.

Luke's Gospel treats this material with only one focus: end-time judgment. The conversation is occasioned by a question about the Kingdom of God, not by the disciples' marveling about the Temple. Jesus in Luke's account does not even mention the Temple, and says nothing about the need to pray that their flight does not happen in the winter or on the Sabbath. And in Luke Jesus uses the extra example of the days of Lot (in addition to the days of Noah).

Application:
I love this insight because it gives me permission to read Luke's account of Jesus' teaching about end-time judgment as just that. Everything in this passage points to Jesus' Second Coming and the end of time. I do not have to sort out which parts apply to Jerusalem and which parts point to the ultimate end. Luke, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, shows how Jesus nuanced his words differently when focusing only on the final end. For example, when Jesus in Luke talks about how a person on the deck should not go down into the house to pack and the one in the field should not return home, he is emphasizing the need for us to be detached from the things of this world. Lot's wife looked back, longing for home, and became a pillar of salt! When Jesus says that one will be taken and the other left, he is talking about how at the end of time some will be saved (the ones that are "left") and others lost (the ones that are "taken"), as in the days of Noah, when those in the Ark remained and those outside the ark were "taken away" by the floodwaters. (My apologies to the fans of the Left Behind series. In all three Gospels the hope is in fact to be left behind!)

I am particularly impressed with Jesus' statement about how the Second Coming will occur when everything is "business as usual." That's now! When the disciples asked where (and when) will this happen and Jesus said, "Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near," he was essentially saying, "Like I said, you need to expect this when you don't expect it!"

My takeaway is this: Be ready!

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I believe that Jesus will come at a time when the unbelieving world least expects it. I pray that I would live in a constant state of expectation, knowing that Jesus' Second Coming is a matter of "when" not "if." Please help me live my life with a healthy detachment from the things of the world while attending faithfully to the work of your Kingdom, which, as Jesus said, is all around us. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen!

Have a great week!

Faithfully,
Chuck

Monday, April 9, 2012

Week 15: Living in Communion with God

This week, the Bible reading plan is as follows:

*Sunday: Deuteronomy 32:28-52; Luke 12:35-59; Psalm 78:56-64; Proverbs 12:24
*Monday: Deuteronomy 33:1-29; Luke 13:1-21; Psalm 78:65-72; Proverbs 12:25;
*Tuesday: Deuteronomy 34:1-Joshua 2:24; Luke 13:22-14:6; Psalm 79:1-13; Proverbs 12:26
*Wednesday: Joshua 3:1-4:24; Luke 14:7-35; Psalm 80:1-19; Proverbs 12:27-28
*Thursday: Joshua 5:1-7:15; Luke 15:1-32; Psalm 81:1-16; Proverbs 13:1
*Friday: Joshua 7:16-9:2; Luke 16:1-18; Psalm 82:1-8; Proverbs 13:2-3
*Saturday: Joshua 9:3-10:43; Luke 16:19-17:10; Psalm 83:1-18; Proverbs 13:4

Scripture: Luke 12:35-46
"'Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.
'Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.'
"Peter asked, 'Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?'
"And the Lord replied, 'A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. But what if the servant thinks, "My master won't be back for a while," and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.'"

Observation:
Jesus admonishes his followers to be ready for his return. There will be a day, at a time we least expect, when Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead. He will call his servants to account. Those who are ready will receive a reward. In fact, Jesus himself will don an apron and serve us at table. The servants who are unprepared, and who squander their stewardship, will be severely punished.

Application:
I have been given much...and much is expected. In a sense, my work carries me. I have many things that keep me busy throughout the day. I don't necessarily have to be a self-starter because there are so many obligations that push me to keep going in active service to the Master. Still, I want to do more. I want to be more. I fear that I am not spending my life making the best use of my talents, but I am either too afraid or too lazy to venture out and discover what that missing piece is. Am I supposed to exercise better time management?

When I work, I get things done...and when I am off of work, I enjoy relaxing. Whether I am at work, at play, or at rest, I am thankful for God's blessings. If Jesus ever asks me if I enjoyed my life, I would say that I have...and would not feel the need to include any qualifying comments (e.g., "I did except when I didn't"). I consider my life a precious and sacred gift.

One thing that bothers me is that I believe God has given me the ability to do more than I actually do, but what I'm not sure of is whether God expects or requires me to do more as a result. Is it enough to enjoy God and savor God's love and presence...or are there sacred duties to which I am derelict in attending?

As I sit with this thought, a certain peace settles upon me. I sense God saying, "Do what you do with all your heart. Attend to me in all your activities. Let us be together in every moment, and together we will make the best use of the time you have left here." There are a thousand things I could do, but I cannot do a thousand things. I can do only one thing at a time. And it is only that one thing that matters at that time. It occurs to me that God does not have a do-list for me to complete. He has a life for me to live...in communion with him.

Prayer:
Lord, I can never say, "My master won't return for a long time," because you have never left. You are with me always. You abide in me and I abide in you. We are inseparable. I want to attend to you always, every waking moment, so that I can attend as well to the opportunities to be a faithful servant in real time. Lord Jesus, I wonder if you ever got the feeling that you weren't making the best use of your time. If so, was that a temptation? Perhaps so. It would be the temptation to worry about what you were not doing instead of communing with the Father amid what you were doing. I pray that at the end of my life when I come into your glorious presence, you will embrace me as a faithful servant. Please let it be so, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Have a great week!

Faithfully,
Chuck

Monday, April 2, 2012

Week 14: Nothing but You

This week, the Bible reading plan is as follows:

*Sunday: Deuteronomy 18-20; Luke 9:28-50; Psalm 73; Proverbs 12:10
*Monday: Deuteronomy 21-22; Luke 9:51-10:12; Psalm 74; Proverbs 12:11
*Tuesday: Deuteronomy 23-25; Luke 10:13-37; Psalm 75; Proverbs 12:12-14
*Wednesday: Deuteronomy 26-27; Luke 10:38-11:13; Psalm 76; Proverbs 12:15-17
*Thursday: Deuteronomy 28; Luke 11:14-36; Psalm 77; Proverbs 12:18
*Friday: Deuteronomy 29-30; Luke 11:37-12:7; Psalm 78:1-31; Proverbs 12:19-20
*Saturday: Deuteronomy 31-32:37; Luke 12:8-34; Psalm 78:32-55; Proverbs 12:21-23

Scripture: Psalm 73:25-26
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. 26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

Observation:
This psalm is a psalm from Asaph. He was a Levite and one of David's worship leaders, see 1 Chronicles 15:17. More specifically, he was one of the drummers of the band (1 Chronicles 15:19, 16:5): he made a loud noise on the bronze cymbals...

Asaph starts this psalm by acknowledging that he had almost made a very big mistake, namely envying those who do not believe in God, yet seemingly have a worry-free and prosperous live (vs. 1-5). He questions himself why he kept his heart pure even though he experiences trouble all day long (vs. 13 & 14).

But instead of turning away from God, he kept asking the question and tried to understand why (v.16). Then one day, God gave him insight and answered his question (v.17). He received this insight when he entered God's holy place, and meditated on the 'final destination' of those who do not believe in God. All of a sudden, Asaph realized the rock he was standing on: God. And that's when he wrote down verses 25 & 26 that were quoted above. He realized that he desired God more than anything here on earth, and that God remains the strength of his heart, even though his health may fail and his spirit may grow weak. Wow, what an observation!

Application:
Asaph's realization is one that comes with time and wisdom. It comes with life experiences. It comes from comforting loved ones who battle a terminal disease, or fighting a terminal sickness yourself. It comes from being at the bottom of the pit, from being in the darkest of the night.

Yet in those dark places, we hold on to that eternal light. It has been said: "Don't forget in the darkness what you have learned in the light." When Asaph was in the darkness, he remembered. He remembered that in light of eternity, his present troubles were nothing compared to the eternal salvation that would be waiting for him. He realized that God was his foundation, the rock upon which he stood.

And so should we. We have to remember this now, when we're still in the light. And if we are in the darkness, and all of us have been at times or will be in the future, we need to hold on to this truth, that we have nothing in heaven or earth, but God. He is the rock of our salvation.

Prayer:
Whom have I in heaven but you oh Lord? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but You remain the strength of my heart; You are mine forever. Help us to never forget this truth. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being the rock of our salvation. In your name we pray. Amen.

Have a blessed week.

Dick