Daily Scripture Reading: Leviticus 15:1-16:28, Mark 7:1-23, Psalm 40:11-17, Proverbs 10:13-14
On the Wii sports game there is training that you can go through to practice your skill level with each of the sports. One of the training exercises for the golf game, is to try to hit a target painted on a green. The bullseye is worth 100 points and the circles outside of the bullseye is worth 50 points. I often hit the 50 points mark and rarely hit the 100 point mark. The 100 point circle is the hardest to hit because it is the smallest and you are rewarded the most points for obvious reasons: it takes the most skill to hit it.
All through Leviticus there is this idea of God teaching his people to be clean. There is much sacrifice and cost involved in living a life that is holy and pleasing to the Lord. The people of God had not only attempted very hard to meet these rules, but they had come up with their own rules defining holiness and righteousness. The problem with this was as we come to the New Testament, Jesus points out that they had completely missed the bullseye. In Mark 7:7-9 and following Jesus informs the religious leaders that they had chosen to follow their own definition of what is "righteous or holy" and they had completely missed God's mark. These leaders' hearts were far from God, and their worship of Him was a joke.
What is the point? When you combine Leviticus and Mark's passage, it is evident that there is a small margin of error when it comes to hitting the mark of living a holy life. The point is we must be careful of believing certain things make a person righteous or holy. Jesus taught our hearts are to be searched and our minds are to be transformed into His likeness. What a person loves, the mind thinks upon, and what the mind thinks upon, the will acts out. Sinful behavior can be traced back to wrong thinking, and wrong thinking reveals a misplaced heart. All unholy living can be traced back to a wrong heart. It is the difference between hitting the 50 point circle and the 100 point circle.
Be Alert: In your own life, be aware that the greatest temptation we face as believers is in our thinking. Our belief in human philosophy, or cultural norms, or logical reasoning can lead our hearts far from God. Isaiah tells us that our thoughts and ways are not God's thoughts and ways. Take every thought captive and test it against Scripture. What are some prevalant thoughts among Christians today that may actually lead Christians away from Scriptural, holy living?
Search your own heart, mind, and actions: what would God have you confess that doesn't line up with Scriptural, holy living? Live your life to hit the 100 point circle and don't settle for the 50 point circle. Let me know what you think, hit comment below, and leave your thoughts.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Distracted from Trust
Daily Scripture Reading: Leviticus 6:1-7:27, Mark 3:7-30, Psalm 37:1-11, Proverbs 10:3-4
Focal Passage: Psalm 37:3-5
It is so easy to become distracted. As I begin to write this blog, I have things that are fighting for my attention. There are tasks on my "to do" list that are screaming for me to get started on them. There is breakfast being made that is reminding me of how hungry I am right now. There are children in my household that are getting ready for the day (do I need to say any more?). All of these distractions are going on even though I haven't turned on the television yet and my grandson is not awake yet (then the distractions really get heightened).
Psalm 37:3-5 says that we are to trust in the Lord and that we are to commit everything we do to the Lord. I find that extremely difficult in our world of distractions. I am distracted by my job because it tells me that performance and accomplishment is what really matters. I am distracted by the latest gadget at the electronic store or the nice car that drives down my street because those things attract my attention and I naturally think material things will make me most complete and happy. I am distracted by the own fleshly desires I have. I want what I want when I want it, and it is difficult for me to learn a lifestyle of sacrifice when I get most of what I want when I want it.
The challenge for Christians is to live in a distracted world without being distracted. We are to commit everything to the Lord and we are to trust Him and trust Him alone. This is not easy to focus on. Let's help one another to call attention to our Lord. Encourage someone else by pointing them to trust in the Lord, get them away from the distractions of this world by sharing Scripture with them. Keep your eyes on the Lord by memorizing Scripture and having your daily time with the Lord. Make sure you are blind to distractions by having a continual attitude of prayer by praying without ceasing.
Speaking of distractions, I last posted a blog entry in the first part of August. I have been slightly distracted to say the least! Tell me what you think. What kind of distractions do you struggle with? What works for you to continually commit everything to the Lord and trust in Him?
Focal Passage: Psalm 37:3-5
It is so easy to become distracted. As I begin to write this blog, I have things that are fighting for my attention. There are tasks on my "to do" list that are screaming for me to get started on them. There is breakfast being made that is reminding me of how hungry I am right now. There are children in my household that are getting ready for the day (do I need to say any more?). All of these distractions are going on even though I haven't turned on the television yet and my grandson is not awake yet (then the distractions really get heightened).
Psalm 37:3-5 says that we are to trust in the Lord and that we are to commit everything we do to the Lord. I find that extremely difficult in our world of distractions. I am distracted by my job because it tells me that performance and accomplishment is what really matters. I am distracted by the latest gadget at the electronic store or the nice car that drives down my street because those things attract my attention and I naturally think material things will make me most complete and happy. I am distracted by the own fleshly desires I have. I want what I want when I want it, and it is difficult for me to learn a lifestyle of sacrifice when I get most of what I want when I want it.
The challenge for Christians is to live in a distracted world without being distracted. We are to commit everything to the Lord and we are to trust Him and trust Him alone. This is not easy to focus on. Let's help one another to call attention to our Lord. Encourage someone else by pointing them to trust in the Lord, get them away from the distractions of this world by sharing Scripture with them. Keep your eyes on the Lord by memorizing Scripture and having your daily time with the Lord. Make sure you are blind to distractions by having a continual attitude of prayer by praying without ceasing.
Speaking of distractions, I last posted a blog entry in the first part of August. I have been slightly distracted to say the least! Tell me what you think. What kind of distractions do you struggle with? What works for you to continually commit everything to the Lord and trust in Him?
Monday, August 16, 2010
What's New?
Background Passage: Jeremiah 30 and 31
Focal Passage: Jeremiah 31:31, 33
What is the newest thing you have experienced lately? Do you remember the first time you did something or experienced something brand new? I remember the first brand new car Terri and I bought (and we are almost finished paying it off, yeah!). We were amazed that it only had 14 miles on the odometer. It had that new car smell, we didn't even have to buy the "new car" deodorizer, it naturally smelled that way. Last year, when we were moving our son into his college dorm room, Terri and I relived the first time we moved out on our own. We experienced for the first time what it was like to have a new place to live. Going to a new location or visiting a town you have never been, learning the way around the area, and meeting people for the very first time. Experiencing these new things can be exciting and nerve racking all at the same time.
In the focal passage, Jeremiah 31:31, God informs Jeremiah and the people that He will make a new covenant with His people. This covenant is different. One of the major characteristics of this new covenant is that God's law would no longer be on stone tablets but be written on the hearts of His people. He would enter into a relationship with His people through the perfect atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The comforting promise that He gave in this passage is that He will not only forgive ours sins but He remembers them no more. This new covenant has an ongoing characteristic to it. Because this new covenant is relationship based, the greater we get to know our Lord, the more time we spend with Him, the sweeter the relationship grows. It is as though we always are riding in a new vehicle.
What is the newest thing you have experienced lately? What new things has God taught you about who He is in your life? Share your comments.
Focal Passage: Jeremiah 31:31, 33
What is the newest thing you have experienced lately? Do you remember the first time you did something or experienced something brand new? I remember the first brand new car Terri and I bought (and we are almost finished paying it off, yeah!). We were amazed that it only had 14 miles on the odometer. It had that new car smell, we didn't even have to buy the "new car" deodorizer, it naturally smelled that way. Last year, when we were moving our son into his college dorm room, Terri and I relived the first time we moved out on our own. We experienced for the first time what it was like to have a new place to live. Going to a new location or visiting a town you have never been, learning the way around the area, and meeting people for the very first time. Experiencing these new things can be exciting and nerve racking all at the same time.
In the focal passage, Jeremiah 31:31, God informs Jeremiah and the people that He will make a new covenant with His people. This covenant is different. One of the major characteristics of this new covenant is that God's law would no longer be on stone tablets but be written on the hearts of His people. He would enter into a relationship with His people through the perfect atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The comforting promise that He gave in this passage is that He will not only forgive ours sins but He remembers them no more. This new covenant has an ongoing characteristic to it. Because this new covenant is relationship based, the greater we get to know our Lord, the more time we spend with Him, the sweeter the relationship grows. It is as though we always are riding in a new vehicle.
What is the newest thing you have experienced lately? What new things has God taught you about who He is in your life? Share your comments.
Monday, August 9, 2010
To Pray or Not To Pray...That is the Question.
Daily Reading: Jeremiah 7-9
Focal Passage: Jeremiah 7:16-24
Did God ever instruct "not to pray"? Think about that question for awhile before you answer it. Am I giving you a trick question? Why would God ever instruct His follower, "not to pray"? I will give you a hint about the answer to this "tricky" question: the answer is found in the focal passage. God actually told Jeremiah to quit praying for His people (Jeremiah 7:16). More than likely, this is a private word from God to the prophet of God's people. It is a rare occasion in Scripture, but it shows God's desperation and disgust with His people's actions.
What is my point? Read on in the focal passage and examine verse 24 carefully. Read the indictment of God's people. What is their problem? Time and time again God has spoken to His people about their sin and they have consistently done four things: 1)didn't listen to Him and didn't pay attention to Him 2) followed their own advice 3)were stubborn 4)continued to move backward instead of forward.
Do you have any of those habits in your life? Do you effectively listen to what God says to you or do you quickly dismiss it and justify why you didn't "hear God clearly or correctly" or why God "couldn't have said that"? Do you give God the opportunity to speak to you or are you simply too busy to read His Word or too busy to be still and quiet so you can hear Him? Do you find yourself solving your own problems and looking for worldly solutions to your problems instead of turning and trusting in God? Do you lean upon your own experiences, education, and wisdom to discern what is right and wrong? Do you simply like things your way and are stubborn when it comes to getting things done your way in your timing? Are you moving closer to God, are you learning more of who He is and wants to be in your life? When was the last time God clearly revealed Himself to you?
Will you agree with God today that you have some of the same problems that His people did back in Jeremiah's day? Will you confess your adulteress heart that has wandered from God? Come back to Him today! I don't know about you, but I don't want the same said about me that God said in Jeremiah 9:26. God, I want my heart to be in agreement with yours! I want to follow You, remove my stubborness, give me Your wisdom, open my ears and heart to hear from you, and help me to move closer to You rather than drifting slowly away from You! Will you pray that prayer with me today!
Focal Passage: Jeremiah 7:16-24
Did God ever instruct "not to pray"? Think about that question for awhile before you answer it. Am I giving you a trick question? Why would God ever instruct His follower, "not to pray"? I will give you a hint about the answer to this "tricky" question: the answer is found in the focal passage. God actually told Jeremiah to quit praying for His people (Jeremiah 7:16). More than likely, this is a private word from God to the prophet of God's people. It is a rare occasion in Scripture, but it shows God's desperation and disgust with His people's actions.
What is my point? Read on in the focal passage and examine verse 24 carefully. Read the indictment of God's people. What is their problem? Time and time again God has spoken to His people about their sin and they have consistently done four things: 1)didn't listen to Him and didn't pay attention to Him 2) followed their own advice 3)were stubborn 4)continued to move backward instead of forward.
Do you have any of those habits in your life? Do you effectively listen to what God says to you or do you quickly dismiss it and justify why you didn't "hear God clearly or correctly" or why God "couldn't have said that"? Do you give God the opportunity to speak to you or are you simply too busy to read His Word or too busy to be still and quiet so you can hear Him? Do you find yourself solving your own problems and looking for worldly solutions to your problems instead of turning and trusting in God? Do you lean upon your own experiences, education, and wisdom to discern what is right and wrong? Do you simply like things your way and are stubborn when it comes to getting things done your way in your timing? Are you moving closer to God, are you learning more of who He is and wants to be in your life? When was the last time God clearly revealed Himself to you?
Will you agree with God today that you have some of the same problems that His people did back in Jeremiah's day? Will you confess your adulteress heart that has wandered from God? Come back to Him today! I don't know about you, but I don't want the same said about me that God said in Jeremiah 9:26. God, I want my heart to be in agreement with yours! I want to follow You, remove my stubborness, give me Your wisdom, open my ears and heart to hear from you, and help me to move closer to You rather than drifting slowly away from You! Will you pray that prayer with me today!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Distractions, distractions
Scripture Reading: I Kings 10, 11, and II Chronicles 9
Focal Passage: I Kings 11:4-6
Have you ever gotten distracted from your task at hand? Perhaps you started a project at work, and then got interrupted by phone calls or more pressing, immediate needs and the project got pushed aside. Before you knew it, days went by before you got back to the project. Maybe you are like me and your wife gives you a list at the grocery store and the meat aisle distracts you for a few minutes (I always have to see if they have any good deals on steaks or shrimp). In my basketball coaching days, my teams would sometimes run a full-court pressure defense to try to distract players from their normal routine of bringing the ball up the court. We hoped they would feel the pressure and make mistakes by throwing the ball away to our team. Distractions are a part of life and coping with those distractions is often the difference between a self-disciplined person and one that simply "goes with the flow".
King Solomon went from a blessed hero in I Kings 10 to a man that was being overrun by his enemies and dies in I Kings 11. What a difference a chapter makes! This huge difference in these two chapters is summed up in the focal passage. Solomon was distracted by his wives (no jokes here about women). His wives seduced (convinced) him to follow after their gods. His heart was not completely faithful to the Lord. One of the gods, Ashtoreth, was a god we read about yesterday in Sunday School (I Samuel 7:3,4). This god was a female deity worshiped as a god of fertility and war. She was also one of the main gods in Canaanite religion. Solomon went from a man that had great wisdom given to him by God, to a man that served other gods and even built places of worship to these other gods. He was distracted and his loyatly and faithfulness to God waivered.
Before we judge Solomon too harshly, let's ask ourselves a question: have I been distracted away from God? Do you need to confess a time in which you have been distracted and your attention and faithfulness to your relationship with God has waivered? It could be school, work, family, church, technology, addictions, cares of this life, vacation, hurt....the list goes on and on. The possibilities are as endless as the choices in a grocery store! Pray this for me and I will do the same for you if you would like for me to: God, help me not to be distracted from You, or Your purposes for my life. Help me to live what Paul wrote in Philippians 3:8. Help me to see everything else besides Christ as simple distractions!
Focal Passage: I Kings 11:4-6
Have you ever gotten distracted from your task at hand? Perhaps you started a project at work, and then got interrupted by phone calls or more pressing, immediate needs and the project got pushed aside. Before you knew it, days went by before you got back to the project. Maybe you are like me and your wife gives you a list at the grocery store and the meat aisle distracts you for a few minutes (I always have to see if they have any good deals on steaks or shrimp). In my basketball coaching days, my teams would sometimes run a full-court pressure defense to try to distract players from their normal routine of bringing the ball up the court. We hoped they would feel the pressure and make mistakes by throwing the ball away to our team. Distractions are a part of life and coping with those distractions is often the difference between a self-disciplined person and one that simply "goes with the flow".
King Solomon went from a blessed hero in I Kings 10 to a man that was being overrun by his enemies and dies in I Kings 11. What a difference a chapter makes! This huge difference in these two chapters is summed up in the focal passage. Solomon was distracted by his wives (no jokes here about women). His wives seduced (convinced) him to follow after their gods. His heart was not completely faithful to the Lord. One of the gods, Ashtoreth, was a god we read about yesterday in Sunday School (I Samuel 7:3,4). This god was a female deity worshiped as a god of fertility and war. She was also one of the main gods in Canaanite religion. Solomon went from a man that had great wisdom given to him by God, to a man that served other gods and even built places of worship to these other gods. He was distracted and his loyatly and faithfulness to God waivered.
Before we judge Solomon too harshly, let's ask ourselves a question: have I been distracted away from God? Do you need to confess a time in which you have been distracted and your attention and faithfulness to your relationship with God has waivered? It could be school, work, family, church, technology, addictions, cares of this life, vacation, hurt....the list goes on and on. The possibilities are as endless as the choices in a grocery store! Pray this for me and I will do the same for you if you would like for me to: God, help me not to be distracted from You, or Your purposes for my life. Help me to live what Paul wrote in Philippians 3:8. Help me to see everything else besides Christ as simple distractions!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Building Project
Focal Passage: I Corinthians 3:10-17
My dad and oldest brother have a gift or a skill that I wish I could duplicate. This skill allows them to look at something that may need some work and envision what it will look like when they are all finished. I may be able to talk about what I would like for it to look like and may even find some pictures that illustrate what I want, but I lack the skill to accomplish the task. This morning I walked over to the house that our church is remodeling just to see the progress that is being made. It is exciting to see something gradually being built or changed to look new and fresh. It is amazing what new tile, new paint, new bathroom, and just up-to-date construction can do to an old home. The reality is that no matter what you do to change the appearance on the outside, the house has to have a strong foundation for that remodeling to make any substantial difference. Another way of putting it is: if the walls can't stand, what's the point of painting them?
In I Corinthians 3:10-11 Paul reminds the church at Corinth the most significant thing about working in God's church is to never get away from the foundation that has been laid. Quite simply: the gospel of Jesus Christ. The church may involve itself in many different discussions and ministries (may do remodeling) from time to time, however, it must never get away from the basic message of salvation is found in Christ and Christ alone. In today's American church culture, the church is always trying to find the next best movement to attract people into its doors (the seeker friendly church, the purpose driven church, the simple church, and now the transformational church). All of these movements, strategies, models can have their place in ministry settings if the church does not change the foundation from which it was founded.
The church (the people of God) is the bride of Christ. Christ is the head of the church. Christ ought to lead, guide, direct His people to fulfill the Great Commission, by living out the Great Commandment, and bringing unchurched people to a saving knowledge of the Great Confession. With all the printed materials we read, all the opinions we have about what the church should do and be, we (as God's people) must never forget what Paul reminded the church at Corinth of so long ago: NO ONE can lay any other foundation than what has already been laid - that is Jesus Christ.
What are you doing within your church to build upon the foundation of Christ and Christ alone? What does your church do to fulfill the Great Commission, live out the Great Commandment? When was the last time you witnessed someone express the Great Confession, much like Peter did? Share your answers to these questions in the comment section of the blog.
My dad and oldest brother have a gift or a skill that I wish I could duplicate. This skill allows them to look at something that may need some work and envision what it will look like when they are all finished. I may be able to talk about what I would like for it to look like and may even find some pictures that illustrate what I want, but I lack the skill to accomplish the task. This morning I walked over to the house that our church is remodeling just to see the progress that is being made. It is exciting to see something gradually being built or changed to look new and fresh. It is amazing what new tile, new paint, new bathroom, and just up-to-date construction can do to an old home. The reality is that no matter what you do to change the appearance on the outside, the house has to have a strong foundation for that remodeling to make any substantial difference. Another way of putting it is: if the walls can't stand, what's the point of painting them?
In I Corinthians 3:10-11 Paul reminds the church at Corinth the most significant thing about working in God's church is to never get away from the foundation that has been laid. Quite simply: the gospel of Jesus Christ. The church may involve itself in many different discussions and ministries (may do remodeling) from time to time, however, it must never get away from the basic message of salvation is found in Christ and Christ alone. In today's American church culture, the church is always trying to find the next best movement to attract people into its doors (the seeker friendly church, the purpose driven church, the simple church, and now the transformational church). All of these movements, strategies, models can have their place in ministry settings if the church does not change the foundation from which it was founded.
The church (the people of God) is the bride of Christ. Christ is the head of the church. Christ ought to lead, guide, direct His people to fulfill the Great Commission, by living out the Great Commandment, and bringing unchurched people to a saving knowledge of the Great Confession. With all the printed materials we read, all the opinions we have about what the church should do and be, we (as God's people) must never forget what Paul reminded the church at Corinth of so long ago: NO ONE can lay any other foundation than what has already been laid - that is Jesus Christ.
What are you doing within your church to build upon the foundation of Christ and Christ alone? What does your church do to fulfill the Great Commission, live out the Great Commandment? When was the last time you witnessed someone express the Great Confession, much like Peter did? Share your answers to these questions in the comment section of the blog.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
The Rock in the River
A couple of hours outside of San Antonio there is an encampment in which the Frio River runs right through the middle of the camp. Groups have to drive their vehicles into the river to get to the campsites. I don't mean just drive through the river. The road to get to the campsites is the riverbed! It is really fun to experience. Our former church had a camp every year called the Family of God camp. Our former pastor had a ritual he always performed at this camp. He would take a group of children on a hike, and during this hike they would all stop at this one rock. This rock was huge! This was the highlight of the hike, because the challenge would be given to try to fit as many kids on the top of that rock as possible. The rock's size was so impressive, but so was its location. It was in the middle of this river. This rock was immovable. This rock was enormous. This rock had plenty of room for everyone to stand on top of it.
David wrote a Psalm that talks about the Lord being his rock. It is recorded in Psalm 18 and II Samuel 22. David spoke the words of this song: "The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer." What circumstance have you live through or are presently going through that you have a need for a Fortress or a Deliverer? What about all the decisions that you face and simply need a standard or a guide to direct you? What do you stand upon in the tornado-like winds of this world? David's relationship with God was his answer to all three of those questions. Today, our relationship with God through Jesus Christ gives us a Rock to stand on, a Fortress to dwell in and know God's safety and provision, and a Deliverer that can rescue us from the penalty, power and presence of sin!
Thank God today for Him being our Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer. Spend some time in prayer worshipping Him! Announce to Him your expressions of how God has been your Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer.
I know it has been a long time, but do this for me: Post your comments on here! Let the focus of your comments be to share with the world how God has revealed Himself to you as the Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer in your life. Post away!!!!
David wrote a Psalm that talks about the Lord being his rock. It is recorded in Psalm 18 and II Samuel 22. David spoke the words of this song: "The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer." What circumstance have you live through or are presently going through that you have a need for a Fortress or a Deliverer? What about all the decisions that you face and simply need a standard or a guide to direct you? What do you stand upon in the tornado-like winds of this world? David's relationship with God was his answer to all three of those questions. Today, our relationship with God through Jesus Christ gives us a Rock to stand on, a Fortress to dwell in and know God's safety and provision, and a Deliverer that can rescue us from the penalty, power and presence of sin!
Thank God today for Him being our Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer. Spend some time in prayer worshipping Him! Announce to Him your expressions of how God has been your Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer.
I know it has been a long time, but do this for me: Post your comments on here! Let the focus of your comments be to share with the world how God has revealed Himself to you as the Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer in your life. Post away!!!!
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