Week 18: Burning Hearts

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:

• Sunday: Judges 8:18-9:21, Luke 23:44-24:12, Psalm 99:1-9, Proverbs 14:9-10
• Monday: Judges 9:22-10:18, Luke 24:13-53, Psalm 100:1-5, Proverbs 14:11-12
• Tuesday: Judges 11:1-12:15, John 1:1-28, Psalm 101:1-8, Proverbs 14:13-14
• Wednesday: Judges 13:1-14:20, John 1:29-51, Psalm 102:1-28, Proverbs 14:15-16
• Thursday: Judges 15:1-16:31, John 2:1-25, Psalm 103:1-22, Proverbs 14:17-19
• Friday: Judges 17:1-18:31, John 3:1-21, Psalm 104:1-23, Proverbs 14:20-21
• Saturday: Judges 19:1-20:48, John 3:22-4:3, Psalm 104:24-35, Proverbs 14:22-24

Our S.O.A.P. this week is from the book of Luke:

Scripture: Luke 24:32
32 They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

Observation:
On the day of Jesus' resurrection, two men from Emmaus walk back home from Jerusalem, a 7 mile walk, as all of a sudden Jesus walks besides them. He must have come out of nowhere, but the men are not surprised and Jesus walks along with them. Their hearts and their conversation is full of sadness (v.17) from the things that had happened to Jesus. When Jesus asks them what they are talking about, they act surprised: "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" (v.18). Jesus' crucifixion was a big thing and all the people in Jerusalem were talking about it.

Long story short... Jesus joins the men to their home, explains the scriptures to them, how the scriptures foretold that the Messiah had to suffer, then prays with them for dinner and disappears. At that moment, their eyes are opened, and they recognize him. That's when they explain today's SOAP verse: "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

Application:
I love how these men express their burning hearts. When Jesus opens your eyes so you understand scripture, your heart gets stirred. I can only imagine these men hanging on Jesus lips as he explains how scripture had to be fulfilled regarding the suffering of Messiah, but also regarding his resurrection. Those are words of hope out of Jesus' mouth! Today we have the Holy Spirit -- going out from the Father and the Son -- who reveals the meaning of scripture to us, if we are receptive to it! The Spirit can and will stir our hearts in a similar manner.

To be honest, I have to admit there are times when my heart is not burning, and scripture reading is more of a 'duty' than a joy for me. When that happens, I know I have to pray for the Spirit to set my heart on fire, because I know with my mind there is nothing better than to read God's truth as revealed in his word. Typically,  it doesn't take long before he will give me a renewed passion...

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word, and for revealing truth from your word. Stir our hearts the way you stirred the hearts of  Cleopas and his companion. Set our hearts of fire for you, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Have a great week!

In Christ,

Dick

Week 16: Appearances can be Deceiving

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:

• Sunday: Joshua 9:3-10:43; Luke 16:19-17:10; Psalm 83:1-18; Proverbs 13:4
• Monday: Joshua 11:1-12:24; Luke 17:11-37; Psalm 84:1-12; Proverbs 13:5-6
• Tuesday: Joshua 13:1-14:15; Luke 18:1-17; Psalm 85:1-13; Proverbs 13:7-8
• Wednesday: Joshua 15:1-63; Luke 18:18-43; Psalm 86:1-17; Proverbs 13:9-10
• Thursday: Joshua 16:1-18:28; Luke 19:1-27; Psalm 87:1-7; Proverbs 13:11
• Friday: Joshua 19:1-20:9; Luke 19:28-48; Psalm 88:1-18; Proverbs 13:12-14
• Saturday: Joshua 21:1-22:20; Luke 20:1-26; Psalm 89:1-13; Proverbs 13:15-16

Our S.O.A.P. this week is from the book of Joshua:

Scripture: Joshua 9:14, 15
"So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord. Then Joshua made a peace treaty with them and guaranteed their safety, and the leaders of the community ratified their agreement with a binding oath."

Observation:
This is one of the most striking instances of deception in Scripture. The Gibeonites knew that Israel had entered the land with a mission to destroy all its inhabitants, including them! They also knew that military resistance was futile. So they resorted to subterfuge, disguising themselves as faraway travelers who came to make a peace treaty with Israel. The truth of the matter is that their towns were only a three-day journey from the point at which they met Joshua and the Israelite leaders.

The problem on Israel's side can be summed up as a lack of discernment. They focused on appearances instead of seeking counsel from the Lord. The men were disguised in old, tattered clothing. They were carrying moldy bread that they claimed was hot out of the oven the day they left on their journey. They lied and said they had been traveling for weeks to reach Joshua and the Israelites. And, rather than asking God for guidance, they believed what they saw and entered into a covenant with the men of Gibeon.

Later, when they discovered that these men lived in the same region, they were helpless to do anything about it. They had already made an oath not to destroy them.

Application:
The moral of the story for me is this: appearances can be deceiving! Scripture elsewhere says that we walk by faith, not by sight. God wants us to follow the leading of his Spirit rather than trust our own wits. God also wants me to take time when confronted with a given decision. He wants me to wait on his leading rather than act impulsively. At the end of the day, he wants me to trust him and distinguish myself as a person of faith.

Today I want to look for the opportunities that God puts before me to trust him and seek his guidance.

Prayer:
Father in Heaven, please help not act impulsively when confronted with choices that seem "obvious." Help me trust you enough to wait for your guidance. When I am tempted to say a given thing is "a no-brainer," please let your Holy Spirit stop me and give me pause enough to back away until I receive a sense of your leading. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great week!

Faithfully,
Chuck

Week 15: Stop Worrying!

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:

• Sunday: Deuteronomy 31:1-32:27; Luke 12:8-34; Psalm 78:32-55; Proverbs 12:21-23
• Monday: Deuteronomy 32:28-52; Luke 12:35-59; Psalm 78:56-64; Proverbs 12:24
• Tuesday: Deuteronomy 33:1-29; Luke 13:1-21; Psalm 78:65-72; Proverbs 12:25
• Wednesday: Deuteronomy 34:1-Joshua 2:24; Luke 13:22-14:6; Psalm 79:1-13; Proverbs 12:26
• Thursday: Joshua 3:1-4:24; Luke 14:7-35; Psalm 80:1-19; Proverbs 12:27-28
• Friday: Joshua 5:1-7:15; Luke 15:1-32; Psalm 81:1-16; Proverbs 13:1
• Saturday: Joshua 7:16-9:2; Luke 16:1-18; Psalm 82:1-8; Proverbs 13:2-3

Our S.O.A.P. this week is from the Gospel of Luke: 
 
Scripture: Luke 8:25, 26
"Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things?'

Observation:
If only we could internalize Jesus' teaching in this passage to the point that it transforms our relationship to the world around us!

According to a recent study published by the American Psychological Association, roughly 75% of all US adults experience physical and psychological symptoms of stress. The top causes of stress are (1) jobs (relating to co-workers, bosses, and work overload), (2) money (relating to loss of job, reduced retirement benefits, and medical expenses), (3) health (relating to a health crisis or a terminal or chronic illness), and (4) relationships (relating to divorce, the death of a spouse, arguments with friends, and loneliness). Almost half of all Americans feel that their stress has increased over the past 5 years and almost half of all people say that stress has a negative impact on their personal and professional life.

While some stressors, like grumpy bosses, can't always be avoided, much of the stress we experience is self-induced. Another word for it is worry. We worry about finances. We worry about gaining weight...and losing weight. We worry about failing health. We worry about our aging parents, spouses, and, especially, our children. We even worry when we feel that we are not worrying enough!

Yet Jesus' logic is impeccable. If worry cannot at a single second to our life, why would we expect it to help us in any other way? Jesus, in a word, gives us as plain a command as he can: Stop worrying!

Application:
Worry is one of my closest companions. It keeps me company at night when I cannot sleep. It is there when I am irritable and when I overeat. It shadows me when I face deadlines at work and when I pay bills each month. As I age, I worry that every new ache or pain is a signal of something terrible.

Today I pause to take in Jesus' teaching afresh…to draw a deep breath and exhale slowly, expelling the tension and feeling anew his peace, which surpasses all understanding.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I rest in you and in your peace, which makes no earthly sense. When I feel the pangs of worry stirring in my soul, please let your Spirit speak to me, assuring me that I am yours and that because of Jesus I have nothing to fear…ever. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen!

Have a great week!

Faithfully,
Chuck